June 17 Playbook: Data Centers Scrambling PA Politics
Residents across Pennsylvania are actively opposing data center developments, leading to calls for local ordinances and a statewide moratorium. This contentious issue is influencing the state's political landscape, with concerns about the rapid pace of development and its potential environmental and public health impacts.
The debate over data center development is intensifying across Pennsylvania, becoming a significant issue in the state's political landscape. Residents in various communities are organizing to oppose new facilities, citing concerns about the rapid pace of development and potential environmental and public health impacts.
Beth Livensperger, a resident actively fighting a proposed data center in the Lehigh Valley, has called for a statewide moratorium to allow for more research and to enable local groups to build stronger opposition. A December Emerson College poll indicated that 42% of Pennsylvanians do not want to live near data centers, while only 34% support their construction in or near their communities.
The issue is also influencing the 2026 gubernatorial race, with both Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity addressing energy policies that could impact data center development. Local officials are under pressure from residents to enact protective ordinances and block developer proposals, with varying degrees of success.