Shapiro calls out data center developers for bullying Pa. residents
Governor Josh Shapiro criticized data center developers for attempting to force projects through local opposition in Pennsylvania, citing Archbald and Montgomery County as examples. He highlighted a new executive order requiring local approval for data center construction permits and noted developers are resorting to lawsuits and facing challenges with power supply. Shapiro stated his strong opposition to such projects.
Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania publicly condemned data center developers on Tuesday, accusing them of bullying residents and attempting to push through projects despite significant local opposition. Speaking in Harrisburg, Shapiro referenced communities like Archbald, where 51 data center warehouses are proposed within a 17-square-mile borough of 7,500 people. He also cited Montgomery County, his family's home, as another area facing similar challenges.
Shapiro criticized one developer in Montgomery County for trying to "sue his way" into building data centers instead of engaging with residents' concerns, creating "chaos" and "fear" within the community. The Governor also noted that this developer lacks a "realistic path to getting power" to the proposed sites.
He emphasized his firm opposition to these projects, stating, "I'm a hell no on that project. I'm a hell no on many other projects across Pennsylvania, and they will not happen on my watch." Shapiro touted a new executive order as one of the country's strictest guidelines for data center development, requiring developers to secure local approval before obtaining state construction permits from the Commonwealth. He concluded by asserting that many communities in Pennsylvania are being "overrun and overwhelmed" by developers who disregard local concerns.