Stacy Garrity & Josh Shapiro Accuse Each Other Of Flip-Flopping On Data Centers
Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidates Josh Shapiro and Stacy Garrity are accusing each other of hypocrisy regarding their stances on data center development, which has become a key election issue. Garrity proposes a moratorium on new data centers, while Shapiro advocates for "strict guardrails" through his voluntary GRID standards. This debate reflects growing public concerns about data centers' impact on utilities, the environment, and local communities.
Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidates Josh Shapiro and Stacy Garrity are locked in a political battle, accusing each other of flip-flopping on data center development ahead of the November election. The debate stems from an Amazon deal announced in June 2025, involving a $20 billion investment in data center campuses, including one in Falls Township, which both candidates initially lauded.
Garrity, the Republican state Treasurer, who previously called the Amazon investment "great news," has now proposed a total pause on new data center development. She argues that state leaders need to address community concerns regarding power grid strain, water usage, noise pollution, and the burden on local resources, and suggests restricting data centers to brownfield and industrial sites. She believes she could implement such a pause without legislative approval.
Conversely, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, who celebrated the Amazon deal as the "largest private sector investment" in the state's history, is now pushing for "strict guardrails" for data center development. He has introduced voluntary Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) standards, which would require developers seeking state assistance to meet benchmarks in transparency, environmental protection, energy sustainability (including 33% renewable energy by 2035 and solar-ready roofs), public meetings, and community benefit agreements. These standards have drawn mixed reactions from environmental, tech, and labor groups.
An Emerson College survey from December 2025 indicates that 71% of Pennsylvanians are concerned about data center power consumption, with many also worried about negative impacts on the environment and cost of living. This public sentiment has made data centers a central issue in the gubernatorial campaign, with both candidates attempting to position themselves as protectors of communities while managing economic development. Experts like Berwood Yost of Franklin & Marshall College note that while their proposed solutions differ slightly (moratorium vs. standards), both candidates are attempting to address public distrust of big tech and AI.