Lindsay Powell
DemocraticQ1 PFAS chemicals are widely used in consumer products but have raised health concerns due to their persistence in the environment and humans, and some Pennsylvanian legislators are considering restrictions on its use, such as in House Bill 2145. Should Pennsylvania restrict PFAS in consumer products? What scientific evidence would you use to inform your decision?
I would generally support science-based efforts to reduce Pennsylvanians’ exposure to PFAS, particularly where these chemicals pose unnecessary risks to public health and where safer alternatives are available. My decisions would be guided by the research and recommendations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and other independent scientific experts.
Pennsylvania has documented PFAS contamination in drinking water systems and communities across the Commonwealth, leading the state to establish maximum contaminant levels for two of the most studied PFAS chemicals. As additional peer-reviewed science-based research becomes available, we should continue to evaluate consumer products using the best available science to take targeted, evidence-based action to protect public health.
Q2 Measles vaccination rates in Pennsylvania have declined in recent years, from 95.5% in 2020 to 92.5% in 2025. At the same time, measles outbreaks have emerged across the state, with 62 confirmed cases in PA in 2026. As a policymaker, how do you approach engaging with communities that have concerns that center on infectious disease outbreaks and vaccine safety, and what policies, if any, would you support related to these issues?
I believe it’s important to engage communities by listening to their concerns, providing clear, evidence-based information, and partnering with trusted local healthcare providers and public health officials. People deserve accurate information so they can make informed decisions.
I will support policies that promote science-based education on vaccination, improve accessibility to immunizations in communities that lack reliable access to preventative care, and ensure our public health agencies have the resources to respond quickly to outbreaks. Vaccines have been proven to be one of the safest and most effective tools for preventing the spread of diseases like measles, and maintaining high vaccination rates helps protect vulnerable individuals who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.
My approach will continue to be guided by the best available scientific evidence and the expertise of public health professionals.
Q3 There have been avian influenza outbreaks in Pennsylvania, with potential impacts on poultry and dairy operations, both industries that provide billions of dollars of economic value to the state. What policies, if any, do you support to strengthen the state’s preparedness and outbreak response? Are there specific strategies you would prioritize to protect farm workers, agricultural communities, and the broader public?
Pennsylvania’s poultry and dairy industries are critical to our state’s economy, and protecting them from avian influenza requires a coordinated, science-based response. That’s why I voted for House Bill 324, which expanded Pennsylvania’s capacity to respond to avian influenza by increasing the number of certified poultry technicians available to conduct testing and surveillance.
Strengthening our ability to detect and respond to outbreaks helps protect farmers, workers, and consumers alike. I also support ensuring the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has the resources it needs for disease surveillance, rapid testing, and timely communication with producers.
In addition, we should continue to provide assistance to farmers whose livestock are impacted, and ensure farm workers have access to appropriate protective equipment and public health guidance.
Q4 Pennsylvania is the nation’s second-largest producer of natural gas and nuclear energy, as well as the third-largest producer of coal, per the Energy Information Administration. In contrast, PA currently ranks 45th in the country in terms of wind, solar, and hydropower energy production. How do you think these energy sources should be distributed across PA’s energy production portfolio, and what policies, if any, would you support to facilitate this?
Pennsylvania has an opportunity to become a national leader in clean energy, but we need to seize it. While natural gas and nuclear power continue to play a role in meeting our current energy needs, we have fallen behind in developing wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources. Expanding clean energy generation will diversify our energy portfolio, strengthen our electric grid, improve energy security, lower long-term energy costs, reduce emissions, and create thousands of good-paying union jobs across the Commonwealth.
That’s why I have supported legislation to modernize Pennsylvania’s energy standards, expand community energy projects, and incentivize new renewable energy generation and energy storage. These investments will help bring more affordable energy online, attract private investment, and ensure Pennsylvania remains competitive in the growing clean energy economy while building a more reliable and resilient energy future.
Q5 Pennsylvania has proposed more reporting, utility oversight, and zoning guidance for large data centers, along with shifting some generation, capacity, and reliability costs onto data center developers rather than ordinary ratepayers. How should the costs and benefits of large data center development be divided between developers and the public, and what requirements, if any, would you support on power, water, and public reporting before a project moves forward?
Unregulated and unchecked data centers will be incredibly dangerous to the health and wellbeing of our communities. That’s why I supported House Bill 1834, which establishes important guardrails to ensure the rapid growth of data centers doesn’t drive up electricity costs for Pennsylvania families or compromise our clean energy future. The bill requires large data centers to cover the costs they create, strengthens oversight of their impact on our electric grid, and promotes the development of new, clean in-state energy resources rather than shifting those costs onto our residents.
I also believe strong environmental protections and transparency are essential before these projects move forward. Developers should clearly report projected electricity and water use, evaluate impacts on local infrastructure and natural resources, and work with state and local officials to ensure these facilities do not strain our electric grid or threaten our environment.
We have a responsibility to protect our communities, safeguard our air and water, and ensure economic growth benefits all Pennsylvanians, not just private developers.