Philadelphia residents protest, mayor establishes data center task force
Residents in Philadelphia protested outside City Hall this week, demanding a moratorium on hyperscale data centers due to concerns about energy, water, and environmental impacts. In response, Mayor Cherelle Parker established a Data Center Task Force to study the pros and cons and provide recommendations by June 2027, though her executive order is not a moratorium.
Residents in Philadelphia have raised concerns about the growth of hyperscale data centers, spurred by the boom in artificial intelligence. This week, approximately 100 protesters gathered outside City Hall, urging Mayor Cherelle Parker and City Council to implement a moratorium on data center development within the city due to potential strain on the energy grid, water supply, and environment. An Action Network petition supporting a data center pause has garnered over 2,600 signatures.
While Philadelphia currently lacks hyperscale data centers, two potential sites have been identified: a city-owned property near Northeast Philadelphia Airport and the former PES refinery site. City officials note that Philadelphia does not yet have specific local zoning laws for data centers, though Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro previously signed an executive order in August establishing broader guardrails for data center development statewide, stopping short of a moratorium.
In response to public sentiment, Mayor Parker signed an executive order creating the Philadelphia Data Center Task Force. This task force is charged with exploring the potential benefits and drawbacks of hyperscale data centers, with a report of findings and recommendations due by June 30, 2027. Mayor Parker clarified that this executive order does not constitute a moratorium, but aims to ensure the city is prepared with appropriate protections should a hyperscale data center proposal emerge. City Council President Kenyatta Johnson indicated that discussions on the future of data centers in Philadelphia are ongoing.