Data center backers, opponents weigh Shapiro’s new rules
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has issued an executive order, the Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Requirements, establishing stricter rules for data center development statewide. The order removes fast-track permitting and mandates local government approvals before state permitting can proceed. Reactions are mixed among local residents, economic developers, and government officials, balancing economic opportunity with concerns about local control and environmental impact.
Governor Josh Shapiro's administration has issued an executive order, known as the Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Requirements, which establishes stricter state-level regulations for data center development across Pennsylvania. The order eliminates data centers' access to the state's fast-track permitting process and mandates local government approval before the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) can consider state permits, aiming to prevent "speculative, irresponsible" projects and grant more power to local communities.
The announcement has elicited mixed reactions from various stakeholders in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Karla Puterbaugh, a resident of Salem Township concerned about local data center projects, cautiously welcomed the removal of fast-track permitting but expressed skepticism about the Governor's motivations and the origin of the GRID standards. John Yudichak, president of Luzerne County Community College, praised the order for addressing speculative land developers and noted the significant economic potential, with 14 existing data center projects and 20 AI campuses representing approximately $200 billion in investment and 100,000 jobs in Pennsylvania.
John Augustine, president and CEO of Penn’s Northeast, an economic development agency, supported the new published rules for clarity and emphasized local municipal control. However, he voiced concerns about changing rules "midstream" for already approved companies and the potential "unfair burden" on local municipalities to handle complex environmental regulations without sufficient expertise, questioning the DEP's reduced role in initial permitting.
Lackawanna County Controller Gary DiBileo and Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary Hess also lauded the executive order as a positive development, crediting the local opposition movement for influencing the Governor. Hess additionally mentioned that Schuylkill County commissioners recently voted to develop "curative amendments" to their zoning ordinance to address data centers and battery storage sites, focusing on quality-of-life issues like electricity and water use. The Data Center Coalition, representing major industry players like Amazon and Google, affirmed shared goals with Gov. Shapiro regarding economic opportunity and community protection but cautioned against "one-size-fits-all policies" and rule changes impacting ongoing investments.