Garrity calls for protecting farmland from data centers at ag roundtable

Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity, the state treasurer, hosted an agriculture roundtable at Eckel Farms in Newton Township, Lackawanna County, where she advocated for protecting Pennsylvania farmland from data center development. Garrity, challenging incumbent Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, highlighted the county's increasing data center proposals and a growing bipartisan opposition movement. She called for a pause on future data center development, suggesting brownfield and industrial sites as more suitable locations, and proposing a policy where local communities have the final say.

The event followed Mudiita Land Venture LLC's recent $2.4 million purchase of 528.6 acres of agricultural and conservation land in neighboring Ransom Township, potentially for a data center campus. Other developers have also proposed data centers in Newton and Ransom townships. Garrity's campaign provided policy initiatives including pausing development to understand impacts, giving local residents a final say, and prioritizing brownfields.

Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak and Eckel Farms owner Keith Eckel supported greater state funding for farmland preservation programs, expressing concern that financially struggling farmers might be compelled to sell land to data center developers. This issue is gaining political traction, with a recent Quinnipiac University poll indicating 74% of voters would oppose an AI data center in their community.

Meanwhile, Governor Shapiro's administration previously released its Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) standards, which mandate stricter guidelines for data center developers seeking state support. The Pennsylvania Democratic Party criticized Garrity's campaign promises, calling them untrustworthy and accusing her of supporting policies that harm farmers.