Read the full stored bill text
PRINTER'S NO. 3595
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 564
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY FREEMAN, VITALI, WEBSTER, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS,
STEELE, SAPPEY, NEILSON, DONAHUE, BOROWSKI, BOYD, OTTEN,
CIRESI, FLEMING, PIELLI, GUZMAN AND MERSKI, JUNE 10, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, JUNE 12, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
study and issue a report on waste heat recovery in this
Commonwealth.
WHEREAS, Data centers require significant inputs of energy
and water to cool heat produced by daily operations; and
WHEREAS, The cooling operations of data centers present a
challenge to consumers by competing for energy and water
resources; and
WHEREAS, Waste heat recovery serves as a potential solution
to alleviate the negative effects of data centers by repurposing
waste heat produced by data centers to meet heating demands,
reducing the energy and water input needed for daily operations
of data centers; and
WHEREAS, Waste heat recovery has been tried and tested
successfully in cases domestically and in other countries; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives shall promote potential
solutions to alleviate the concerns of Pennsylvanians regarding
the topic of data centers; and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
WHEREAS, It is necessary to investigate waste heat recovery
technology and how the technology can be implemented within the
policy environment in this Commonwealth while keeping in mind
economic and infrastructural barriers; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to conduct a study and issue a
report on waste heat recovery in this Commonwealth; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the study include:
(1) An investigation into waste heat recovery technology
and its possible applications in this Commonwealth,
including:
(i) Mapping of district energy networks, data
centers and planned data center developments in this
Commonwealth.
(ii) Identifying opportunities for beneficial use of
waste heat from data centers.
(iii) Identifying barriers to adopting waste heat
recovery systems.
(iv) Evaluating best practices and policies for
using waste heat implemented in other states, counties
and localities.
(v) Assessing the estimated costs necessary to
develop supporting infrastructure and associated
programs.
(vi) Evaluating the expected economic costs and
benefits, environmental impacts and community-level
outcomes associated with implementing waste heat recovery
systems.
(vii) Producing policy recommendations to promote
20260HR0564PN3595 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
the adoption of waste heat recovery in data centers.
(viii) The applicability of waste heat recovery to
other industries.
(ix) Investigating additional information that the
Joint State Government Commission deems to be useful to
investigate.
(2) Public hearings, taking testimony and conducting
site visits;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission
establish an advisory committee to receive input on waste heat
recovery, including representatives of:
(1) The data center industry.
(2) The waste heat recovery industry.
(3) Gas and electric utilities.
(4) Pennsylvania-based institutions of higher education.
(5) Local governments.
(6) State agencies.
(7) Environmental advocacy groups.
(8) Organized labor.
(9) Potential consumers of waste heat.
(10) The public.
(11) Any additional stakeholders identified by the Joint
State Government Commission;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission submit a
report on waste heat recovery in this Commonwealth to the House
of Representatives no later than one year after the adoption of
this resolution.
20260HR0564PN3595 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29