Professors explain implications of new "GRID" executive order
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order making the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development requirements mandatory for data center projects. The order requires local approval before state environmental permits, removes projects from the Permit Fast Track program, and bans nondisclosure agreements under the governor’s jurisdiction.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s executive order requires data center developers to comply with the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development, or GRID, requirements. Projects must receive local approval before the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection can issue permits, and data centers are no longer eligible for the state’s Permit Fast Track program. The order also prohibits agencies under the governor’s jurisdiction from using nondisclosure agreements for data center projects.
Lehigh University professors Javad Khazaei, Valerie Holt and Karen Pooley said the policy could increase municipal oversight, transparency and consideration of community impacts. They discussed concerns involving electricity demand, water use, environmental effects, land use and infrastructure, while noting that developers will need to account for grid capacity, transmission upgrades and reliability as Pennsylvania evaluates more than 100 proposed data center projects.