Pa. data center developers face new restrictions following executive order
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order implementing stringent new regulations for data center development across the state. The order makes previously voluntary GRID standards legally binding, requiring developers to use their own power, pay for it, and utilize clean energy, while also mandating municipal approval before state permits can be issued. This change impacts projects like the PAC One data center in Middlesex Township, Cumberland County, which has not yet received all necessary state permits.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order placing significant new restrictions on the permitting process for data centers throughout the Commonwealth. The order makes the Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) standards, initially announced as voluntary, legally binding for AI data center developers. These standards require developers to use their own power, pay for it, and incorporate clean energy sources.
Governor Shapiro stated the executive order aims to put local control at the forefront, addressing what he called "the chaos caused by speculative data center projects." The order also mandates municipal approval before state permits can be issued for data center projects and removes them from the state's fast-track permitting plan. Hamden Township Commissioner John Michael Smith praised the move, emphasizing the community's right to set reasonable rules.
The new regulations come as communities across Pennsylvania, including South Hanover, Kahnawago, and Middlesex Townships, have voiced concerns over proposed data center developments. Environmental Protection Secretary Jessica Shirley confirmed that the PAC One data center project in Middlesex Township, Cumberland County, will be subject to these new standards as it has not yet secured all necessary state permits. The Middlesex Township Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet soon to consider one of the final local permits for this project, casting uncertainty over its future development.