Garrity pushes for data center pause during event in Wilkes-Barre Twp.
Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity proposed a statewide "pause" on data center development, advocating for updated zoning and ensuring costs don't fall on ratepayers. She criticized Governor Josh Shapiro's past support for Amazon's $20 billion data center deal, while Shapiro's administration has recently unveiled new "GRID standards" for data center developers. Local officials in Wilkes-Barre Twp. are now drafting their own zoning ordinance to address data center development.
Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, called for a statewide "pause" on data center development during a "listening session" in Wilkes-Barre Township. Garrity emphasized the need to update zoning regulations, protect ratepayers from increased costs, and ensure data centers contribute to the electricity grid rather than strain it. She differentiated a "pause" from a full moratorium, suggesting a collaborative effort to establish model zoning guidelines for municipalities.
Garrity criticized her Democratic opponent, Governor Josh Shapiro, for his previous support of a $20 billion commitment from Amazon Web Services to build cloud computing and AI campuses across Pennsylvania, with initial sites planned for Salem Township, Luzerne County, and Falls Township, Bucks County. She argued that key stakeholders, including local governments and communities, were excluded from initial discussions, leading to a public outcry.
In response, Governor Shapiro's campaign spokesperson Manuel Bonder defended the Governor's record, stating that Shapiro has worked with community, labor, and environmental leaders to develop and release "Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) standards." These new, stricter guidelines aim to ensure data center projects benefit communities and avoid imposing costs on Pennsylvanians. Shapiro recently visited a data center development site in Lackawanna County, where 30 data centers and a natural gas power plant are proposed in Archbald, to unveil these standards. Local officials from Wilkes-Barre Township, including Mayor Carl Kuren and Solicitor John Rodgers, also voiced concerns about existing zoning laws' inadequacy and the challenges municipalities face in regulating large-scale data center projects. Rodgers noted that the township is drafting its first zoning ordinance specifically for data centers.