Election 2026: The bipartisan politics of data center opposition
Opposition to proposed hyperscale data centers and related power infrastructure has become a bipartisan political issue across Northeast Pennsylvania. Residents in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Schuylkill and surrounding counties cite concerns about electricity, pollution, water, health and land use, while candidates debate how forcefully to regulate the industry.
Residents and data center opponents across Northeast Pennsylvania say opposition to hyperscale development is influencing the 2026 midterm elections across party lines. In Lackawanna County, a proposed 400-megawatt natural gas plant by Essential Energy LLC and PPL Electric Utilities’ proposed 500-kilovolt transmission line have become focal points of concern, with the line affecting Nescopeck, Black Creek, Sugarloaf and Hazle townships. Critics cite potential impacts on pollution, water supplies, utility bills, health, noise and quality of life.
The issue is shaping races involving U.S. Reps. Rob Bresnahan and Dan Meuser and their Democratic challengers Paige Cognetti and Rachel Wallace, as well as state contests. Gov. Josh Shapiro has issued an executive order imposing stricter requirements on data center development, while state Sen. Katie Muth and Sen. Rosemary Brown have backed legislation calling for a three-year statewide moratorium. Although some voters support development on brownfields or former industrial sites under strong regulations, the article finds widespread skepticism toward politicians’ handling of the issue and describes data center opposition as one of the election cycle’s most bipartisan movements.