PA Groups Rally Against Data Centers

Advocacy groups convened a rally at the Pennsylvania state capitol in Harrisburg to protest the expansion of data centers, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence development. The protestors called on state legislators to enact policies that protect residents and the environment from the impacts of the tech industry's growth. Mary Collier, representing Pennsylvania Stands Up, highlighted the financial struggles of nearly 40% of the state's families, questioning the allocation of public funds to large tech companies. She argued that these funds should instead support projects that generate stable, family-sustaining jobs within local communities. Collier criticized the data center industry's promise of job creation, stating that most construction jobs are filled by specialized companies traveling nationwide, not local workers. She added that once built, data centers primarily offer only a handful of security, lawn maintenance, and janitorial positions, rather than broader employment opportunities for the local populace.