Mayor Parker has ordered a task force to study data centers in Philly and report back by June

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker established a task force via executive order to investigate whether the city should implement new regulations on data center construction. The task force, composed of members of her administration and City Council President Kenyatta Johnson's office, is mandated to deliver its findings by June 30.

Mayor Parker stated that the issue is of "grave importance" and cited concerns from residents about potential increases in utility bills and pollution caused by hyperscale data centers. She emphasized the city's need for "appropriate guardrails" should a firm apply to build a data center, noting no such application is currently pending.

The mayor's action follows a recent rally outside City Hall where activists from the group No Data Centers in Philly demanded a multiyear moratorium on data center construction. The group criticized the task force's timeline, calling it "too little, too late," and accused data center developers of relying on "dirty deals" elsewhere. They vowed to make data centers an electoral issue in upcoming elections.

While no Philadelphia City Council member has publicly introduced legislation for a moratorium, Governor Josh Shapiro recently signed a statewide executive order limiting data center construction and requiring local approval. In Philadelphia, a city planning commission report identified two potential sites, but local Councilmember Mike Driscoll expressed opposition to one, citing concerns about utility costs for his constituents, potentially blocking development in that area. Leaders of the Bellwether District, another potential site, stated no data center projects are currently in their pipeline.