Shapiro shifts course on Pennsylvania data centers
Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order significantly tightening regulations for data center development in Pennsylvania. The new rules mandate local approval, enforce environmental and energy standards, and eliminate fast-track permitting for projects like Amazon's. This policy shift comes amidst increasing public opposition across the state.
Governor Josh Shapiro has enacted an executive order that dramatically alters Pennsylvania's approach to data center development. This new policy grants local communities enhanced control over proposed projects and imposes stringent new environmental, energy, and transparency requirements. The shift represents a significant change for Shapiro, who previously supported data centers as an economic boon, including Amazon's $20 billion investment plans in Bucks and Luzerne counties. The change comes amidst rising public opposition to data center projects statewide, with a Quinnipiac University poll indicating strong voter disapproval.
The executive order requires developers to secure local approval prior to obtaining state permits and makes the Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) standards mandatory. This means data centers, including those from Amazon, will no longer qualify for fast-track permitting. Developers must adhere to new water conservation and public notification standards, and state agencies are barred from using nondisclosure agreements for these projects. Additionally, projects will be responsible for their own electricity generation and associated costs, and must commit to community-benefit agreements focused on local hiring, training, and infrastructure investment. The state Department of Environmental Protection will also create a public map of project permitting information.
The Data Center Coalition, which includes major developers like Amazon and Microsoft, has voiced concerns regarding the imposition of new requirements on existing projects. Despite potential legal challenges, the Shapiro administration appears ready to defend the new regulations. Currently, six data center projects are under construction in Pennsylvania, with ten others having received at least one state-level permit.