Subcommittee lays on table bill requiring 24‑hour public notice after extended generator events
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Summary
After debate and testimony from environmental and industry witnesses, the subcommittee voted 9–1 to lay on the table HB154, which would have required public notice within 24 hours when data‑center backup generators run beyond routine testing.
A substitute and amendments to HB154, focused on disclosure after extended use of data‑center backup generators, were presented Thursday and then laid on the table by a recorded vote of 9–1.
"Very simply, what this bill seeks to do is just require a disclosure to the public within 24 hours of such an event so that the public and our leaders can start collecting data on how long and where, such particulates are put into the atmosphere," Delegate Talia Thomas said in describing the intent of the measure.
Supporters described the bill as a transparency tool that would help communities know when generators have been fired up for emergency or demand‑response events. "It is the public's right to know that this is happening in their communities," Kyle Hart of the National Parks Conservation Association said.
The data center coalition urged caution, citing a JLARC report and saying generators are rarely run for prolonged periods. "Our main concern with this legislation is that it targets only 1 industry," said Nicole Riley of the Data Center Coalition. The committee ultimately voted 9–1 to lay the measure on the table, with members noting related bills on reporting remain under consideration.