Sen. McCormick: Locals Should Determine if They Want Data Centers, Not CEOs
Senator Dave McCormick advocates for local control over data center development in Pennsylvania, emphasizing that communities, not state or corporate leaders, should decide on new projects. He proposes a "covenant" outlining conditions for data centers, including protections for energy and water resources, clear tax implications, local hiring, and community investments. McCormick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, underscored the importance of balancing economic opportunity with community concerns.
Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) asserted in an interview with Breitbart News that local municipalities should have ultimate authority over data center construction within their communities. Speaking at the 2026 Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) National Leadership Summit, McCormick discussed the need for the U.S. to lead in artificial intelligence (AI) but cautioned against top-down decisions regarding data center siting.
McCormick highlighted a perceived disconnect between national AI ambitions and local community concerns, citing the difference in public perception of data centers between the U.S. and China. He emphasized that decisions should rest with local officials like township supervisors and county commissioners. He outlined a five-point "covenant" that communities should demand from data center developers.
This covenant includes protections on energy rates, requirements for closed-loop water recycling systems, clear agreements on tax implications (which should benefit the local tax base and lower property taxes), commitments to hire local labor, and significant community investments in areas like schools, roads, and bridges. McCormick noted his personal understanding of residents' reluctance to have large data centers in their backyards, such as near his family farm in Bloomsburg.
However, he believes that with such a comprehensive package of benefits and protections, many communities would opt into hosting data centers, viewing them as an economic engine. He posed the question to communities that might decline: "if not this, what is the economic engine that's going to create opportunity for our kids?"