Shapiro says some data center developers disregard communities

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has signed an executive order, effective August 18, to regulate data center development across the state. The order mandates that developers secure local community support, independently cover their electricity generation and costs without burdening residents or businesses, and implement measures to protect water resources and air quality. Shapiro emphasized that these are the strictest requirements in the U.S. and developers failing to comply will not be permitted to operate in Pennsylvania. The executive order also excludes artificial intelligence data centers from an expedited approval program, linking the new policy to the governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) initiative.

The governor's announcement comes amid growing public concern and political debate surrounding data center expansion. A recent Gallup poll indicated that 70% of Americans oppose the construction of AI data centers in their areas, citing potential increases in electricity demand, costs, and strain on local water resources. The move also follows a statement by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested communities opposing AI data centers risk remaining economically underdeveloped. Shapiro's policy shift drew criticism from his gubernatorial rival, Republican Stacy Garrity, who called the executive order an attempt to rectify previous policies and pledged to suspend data center development if elected in June 2025. This new regulatory framework notably contrasts with Shapiro's previous welcome of Amazon's plans to invest at least $20 billion in two data center complexes in Pennsylvania.