Will Josh Shapiro’s data center past haunt his political future?
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro shifted from promoting fast-track permitting for data centers, including Amazon projects, to removing them from the program and imposing additional review expectations. The reversal followed growing public concern about electricity costs, environmental impacts and rapid development, while opponents and lawmakers continue to seek stronger restrictions, including a moratorium.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s approach to data centers in Pennsylvania has changed substantially since 2024, when his administration created a fast-track permitting program that welcomed large technology and infrastructure projects. The program included Project Hazelnut, later linked to Amazon Web Services, and preceded Amazon’s announcement of a planned $20 billion investment at two additional Pennsylvania sites. As data center proposals multiplied, residents, environmental groups and lawmakers raised concerns about electricity costs, resource consumption, air and water impacts, and the lack of public oversight.
Shapiro later introduced the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development, or GRID, standards, which call for measures including clean-firm energy use and payment by developers for infrastructure upgrades. In August, he issued an executive order removing data centers from the state’s Fast Track program and requiring developers seeking expedited state review to address GRID expectations, although critics said the standards remain insufficiently binding. The administration’s shift has drawn criticism from groups including Food & Water Watch and state Sen. Katie Muth, while some environmental and consumer advocates say the governor is responding to changing conditions.
The article examines how the issue could affect Shapiro’s political future, including a possible 2028 presidential campaign. Polling shows significant concern about data centers, and both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have called for a moratorium, but industry representatives warn that regulatory uncertainty could discourage investment and affect legitimate developers as well as speculative projects.