Shapiro Announces New Standards For Data Center Construction
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has announced new statewide GRID standards for data center construction. These standards require developers to submit applications detailing how their projects will meet criteria related to energy affordability, transparency, economic development, and environmental protection. Data centers failing to meet these standards will not qualify for tax exemptions, and the governor is also requesting legislation for companies to reinvest tax savings into public priorities.
Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania has introduced the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) standards, new statewide regulations for data center construction. These standards mandate that developers submit applications to state agencies outlining how their projects will protect energy affordability, promote transparency and community engagement, support workforce and economic development, and protect the environment. Data centers failing to meet these criteria will be ineligible for state tax exemptions.
Additionally, Shapiro is advocating for a bill in Harrisburg that would require companies to reinvest tax savings into public priorities. The governor has also launched an online toolkit to assist municipalities in evaluating data center proposals, while several other bills regulating data centers are simultaneously being considered in Harrisburg.