The Real Cost of Data Centers

Pennsylvania taxpayers are paying for the Data Centers that drive up energy costs and waste our water! The PA Computer Data Center Equipment Program, authorized under Act 84 of 2016 and amended under Act 13 of 2019 and Act 25 of 2021, is designed to attract new investment from businesses that own or operate within a computer data center. Under the original legislation, the program was designed to provide a tax refund for sales and use tax paid on qualified computer data center equipment utilized within a facility certified by the Department of Revenue. The passage of Act 25 of 2021 established the Computer Data Center Sales and Use Tax Exemption Program. Beginning January 1, 2022, computer data center equipment is exempt from Pennsylvania sales and use tax when it is sold to, used, or consumed in a certified data center by an owner, operator, or qualified tenant holding a Computer Data Center Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exemption issued by the department.​