Capitol rally pushes Pennsylvania data center moratorium
Nearly 100 people rallied inside the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg to oppose data center development and urge lawmakers to enact a three-year moratorium on new construction. Protesters raised concerns about artificial intelligence-driven development, farmland preservation and the effects of large data centers on communities.
Nearly 100 protesters gathered in the Pennsylvania Capitol rotunda in Harrisburg for a rally against data center development. Speakers and attendees urged Pennsylvania lawmakers to impose a three-year moratorium on construction of the large facilities being built to support the artificial intelligence industry.
Participants carried signs opposing data centers and citing threats to agricultural land and communities. A counterprotester wearing a robot costume and a mask depicting Gov. Josh Shapiro suggested that lawmakers were prioritizing technology interests over residents, underscoring the dispute over the state's data center expansion.