Philadelphia Activists Rally at City Hall, Demand Data Center Moratorium Now
Activists in Philadelphia are rallying at City Hall to demand a moratorium on new data center construction, citing a lack of zoning rules and safeguards. This local push reflects broader regional and state-level efforts to regulate data centers, with governors in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey implementing new policies and specific projects facing strong community opposition and legal challenges.
Philadelphia activists with the "No Data Centers in Philly" campaign rallied at City Hall, calling on the City Council to enact a moratorium on new data center construction. Organizers, like Shawmar Pitts, warn that the city currently lacks zoning regulations to govern these facilities, particularly with two potential sites identified in the southwest and northeast portions of the city, posing a "recipe for disaster." They argue a pause is needed to develop appropriate regulations.
The Philadelphia rally is part of a growing trend of opposition, with Oakland, California, also proposing a 45-day pause on data center development. Regionally, resistance has been significant, including in Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania, where the Board of Supervisors unanimously rejected developer Brian O'Neill's plan for five data centers after a 20,000-signature petition and the denial of a temporary injunction sought by O'Neill's company. In nearby Plymouth Township, officials accused O'Neill of legal intimidation after he challenged strict environmental and operating conditions imposed on his 2 million-square-foot data center project.
State governments are also taking action. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2026-05, eliminating fast-tracked permits and requiring developers to cover energy infrastructure costs and meet mandatory environmental and grid standards. Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signed a four-bill package requiring developers to provide their own clean energy and cover grid costs, while New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill enacted legislation for a dedicated ratepayer class for large data centers, despite environmental groups calling for a full statewide moratorium.
Major projects in the region include Amazon's planned $20 billion investment in Pennsylvania data centers, with a facility in Bucks County drawing concerns over air quality due to proposed natural gas-fired generators. In Vineland, New Jersey, a 300-megawatt data center by DataOne for Nebius Group faced stop-work notices for unapproved construction. These developments unfold as a Gallup poll indicates strong public opposition to data centers due to environmental and financial impacts, and regional grid manager PJM Interconnection projects significant electricity demand growth driven by data centers.