Where governor candidates Garrity and Shapiro stand on data centers
Pennsylvania governor candidates Josh Shapiro and Stacy Garrity have distinct views on data center development regulations. Garrity advocates for mandatory rules and a development pause, while Shapiro proposes voluntary environmental and workforce standards tied to incentives. The state legislature is also actively considering new bills to regulate the industry statewide.
Pennsylvania's gubernatorial candidates, incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro and Republican challenger Stacy Garrity, are taking divergent positions on data center development, a topic gaining significant public attention statewide due to concerns over energy prices, water availability, and property values. A spring poll indicated 64% of Pennsylvanians view data centers as a crisis or problem.
Governor Shapiro has historically pursued partnerships with major tech companies, including a $20 billion Amazon Web Services investment in data centers, and introduced a "Fast Track" permitting program. More recently, he unveiled his GRID proposal, which offers existing tax breaks to data centers that meet voluntary environmental, economic development, and energy standards, such as using at least 32% clean energy and creating community benefits agreements. His campaign has remained silent on the prospect of a moratorium.
Stacy Garrity, currently the state treasurer, initially expressed enthusiasm for data center investment but has shifted her stance. She now advocates for mandatory regulations for the industry, criticizing Shapiro's voluntary approach and existing tax deals. Garrity proposes a "pause" on data center development, without specifying a duration beyond three years, to allow local townships to update zoning requirements and plan for emergency services. She does not support a "clean energy mandate," preferring the use of natural gas resources.
Concurrently, the Democratic-led state House has passed several bills aimed at regulating data centers, including mandates for energy and water usage disclosure, conditional tax benefits, and baseline requirements for utility contracts, some of which also include a 32% clean energy target by 2035. While a Shapiro spokesperson confirmed collaboration with House Democrats on data center legislation, the specific bills await action in the state Senate, and one conflicting bill to repeal tax exemptions has also passed the House.