Pennsylvania report warns AI data centers raise SMB energy costs

The report has published a first-time analysis and policy agenda on Pennsylvania energy affordability, data centers, and small-business competitiveness.

• It argues that AI-driven data center growth is increasing electricity demand and shifting grid expansion costs onto households and SMBs; it says ratepayers covered 95% of PJM data center transmission projects in 2024 and that PJM capacity prices rose 833% for 2025–2026.
• It also presents policy recommendations, including cost-causation pricing, upfront grid and transmission payments under House Bill 1834, renewable procurement standards for data centers, and expanded community benefit agreements and small-business relief. The report cites the Lancaster AI data-center campus CBA as a model and notes HB 2650 passed the Pennsylvania House 134–68 on June 24, 2026.