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Dear Neighbor,
This week brought important news for our communities, as Governor Shapiro signed an Executive Order establishing strong, enforceable guardrails for data center development in Pennsylvania. The Order ensures that local zoning decisions come first, requires developers to meet strict environmental and ratepayer protections, and brings long-overdue transparency to water and energy use. The governor’s action follows increased pressure from residents, local officials, and lawmakers who have pushed for safeguards for our communities and electricity ratepayers in the face of unchecked data center development.
See below for more details on the Executive Order, plus information about our upcoming Paper-Only Shred Event. Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the parking lot of North Brandywine Middle School. This is a great opportunity to safely destroy and recycle confidential documents and protect yourself from identity theft and fraud.
Finally, there are still opportunities to submit public comment on issues that directly affect our region. Community input is essential, and your comments can help shape the state regulatory changes and local planning decisions that impact our lives.
Governor Shapiro Signs Executive Order on Data Centers; Legislative Work Still Required
Governor Shapiro’s Executive Order puts meaningful protections in place that ensure transparency, local control, and ratepayer safeguards as data center proposals continue to grow across our Commonwealth.
Under the Governor’s directive, your township’s zoning decision now comes before any state permit. DEP cannot issue a permit until a municipality has completed its review and granted local approval. Developers must also sign a legally enforceable agreement committing to the GRID Requirements before DEP will begin evaluating their applications. Data centers have driven record high-capacity prices across PJM, responsible for nearly half of recent auction costs. Going forward, these companies must bring their own power. They cannot plug into the grid and leave Pennsylvania families and businesses to absorb the cost.
Every data center in Pennsylvania will be required to publicly report its annual water and energy use, including peak load, natural gas consumption, cooling demand, and environmental protection measures. And residents will be able to see every proposed data center on a public map, updated regularly by DEP.
This affirms so much of the work my colleagues and I have advanced in the state House. We passed bipartisan legislation to put strong, enforceable standards in place, give municipalities tools to manage data center proposals, and increase transparency, while protecting local community control. But Senate leadership refused to act, and Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman said he had no intention of running any bills to regulate data centers. Given the state Senate’s refusal to act, the Governor stepped in, taking executive action.
I am grateful to Governor Shapiro for taking decisive, substantive action that directly addresses the concerns echoed by our communities. There is still legislative work to be done. In addition to the comprehensive legislative framework we’ve passed in the House to address energy costs, water use, municipal planning, and transparency concerns related to data centers, I’ve introduced the following data-center-related bills that I hope to see move this fall:
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FREE Paper-Only Shred Event
Join Team Otten for a FREE Paper-Only Shred Event!
Bring your confidential documents to be destroyed! Each car will be limited to 4 file-size boxes. Small paper clips and staples are OK, but please no binder clips, binders, or cardboard (plan to take your boxes home with you).
The shredding event will take place in the parking lot of the North Brandywine Middle School, 256 Reeceville Rd, Coatesville, PA.
This event is first-come, first served. When the truck is full, the event will end. All shredded paper will be recycled!
If you have any questions, please contact Rep. Otten’s district office at 484-200-8259 or email repotten@pahouse.net. |
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PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES: PA DEP Public Comment on PFAS
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is accepting public comments on revised draft permits for biosolids producers to prevent PFOS and PFOA from ending up on farm fields.
The proposed new safeguards are designed to prevent PFAS “forever chemicals” from polluting farm fields and groundwater. The changes would require wastewater treatment facilities to monitor PFOS and PFOA in biosolids for the first time and take steps to reduce contamination when levels exceed certain thresholds.
PFAS chemicals have been linked to numerous health issues, and these changes are intended to give farmers confidence that the biosolids they use are safe and to protect soil and water resources across Pennsylvania.
You can submit a comment through the DEP eComment platform or email: ecomment@pa.gov (Be sure to include your name and address). The permits open for comment are PAG-07 (General Permit for Beneficial Use of Exceptional Quality Biosolids) and PAG-08 (General Permit for Beneficial Use of Biosolids).
For more information, see the public comment announcement on the DEP website.
Uwchlan Township Public Comment Deadline Extended for Lionville Station Road
The Uwchlan Township Board of Supervisors will continue its hearing on Lionville Station Road on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Township Building.
The deadline for written public comment has again been extended to 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Comments should be submitted to: LSR@uwchlan.com.
For more information, please visit the township’s Lionville Station Road landing page. |
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Please contact my district office at repotten@pahouse.net if you have questions or would like to share your thoughts on any legislative or state-related issue. |
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Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period Extended
The 2026 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period has been extended through December 31, 2026. The Department of Revenue began sending rebates on July 1, so submit your application now to get your rebate as soon as possible!
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians ages 65 and older, widows and widowers ages 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older.
Please call or stop by my office to find out if you’re eligible and get assistance applying for your rebate. We’d be glad to answer any questions and set up an appointment to help you complete your application online!
For those who prefer to file by mail, paper applications are available in my office. |
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SEPTA Senior Key Cards and Card Renewals
If you have a SEPTA Senior Key Card that has expired or will expire within the next month, we can renew it in our district office. To renew your card before it expires, please stop by my district office, or call us to make an appointment.
My office can also process applications and take photos for new SEPTA Senior Key ID Cards, which allow seniors 65 and older to travel for free on all SEPTA Regional Rail and transit routes within Pennsylvania. Just stop by my district office and bring a form of ID with your date of birth on it, such as a PA driver’s license or non-driver ID, U.S. passport, or birth certificate. We’ll enter your information into SEPTA’s online system, take a quick photo, and then SEPTA will mail your new card to you directly. |
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2-1-1 Southeastern Pennsylvania: Health and Human Services
211 SEPA is part of the national 211 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide health and human services for everyday needs and those in crisis situations.
2-1-1 works with county governments and provider agencies to ensure important local program information is easily accessible.
Visit 211sepa.org for more information. |
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Mental Health Resources: Call 9-8-8
Chester County residents experiencing mental-health-related crisis or distress can dial 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This system is designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people in crisis to a trained mental health professional.
Chester County offers additional resources for those in crisis, including Chester County’s warm line, 1-866-846-2722, operated by Certified Peer Specialists, who are individuals in recovery with a lived experience of mental health challenges.
Chester County’s Teen Talk Line ensures seamless referral to Mobile Crisis for youth in need of immediate or higher-level support. The call line is 855-852-TEEN (8336), and the text line is 484-362-9515.
Visit the Department of Human Services website for more information about the 988 system and other state and local mental health resources.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, please don’t give up hope, and please know that you do not need to walk this path alone. We are here and we will do whatever we can to help. |
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My staff and I are here to help make state government work better for you! For assistance with the above programs or any other state-related services, please email repotten@pahouse.net, call 484-200-8259, contact us through my website, or visit my district office in Exton and let us know how we can help! |
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District Office 631 North Pottstown Pike |
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Pennsylvania State Capitol 34 East Wing PO Box 202155 (717) 783-5009 |
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