Data centers becoming hot issue in Pennsylvania's gubernatorial race

Data centers have emerged as a contentious political issue in Pennsylvania's gubernatorial race, with incumbent Governor Josh Shapiro and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity accusing each other of reversing their stances on development. KDKA political analyst Jon Delano noted that both candidates appear to have "flip-flopped" due to the growing unpopularity of data centers, which polls suggest over 70% of respondents do not want near their communities due to concerns about noise, energy consumption, and water usage.

The political shift marks a significant change from past enthusiasm. Just a year ago, Governor Shapiro highlighted a massive data center campus planned for Homer City and a $20 billion Amazon campus in eastern Pennsylvania. However, he now chastises data center developers and has signed an executive order to implement what he calls "the strongest safeguards in America." His campaign criticizes Garrity for having previously favored unregulated development.

Conversely, Stacy Garrity, who once supported data centers, has now called for a moratorium on their development. She labels Governor Shapiro as the industry's "biggest cheerleader" and demands he return $5 million in campaign contributions from AI interests.

Delano suggests that the candidates' past support for data centers has effectively canceled each other out on the issue, leaving "no clean hands." The ultimate impact of this debate on the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election remains to be seen amidst ongoing public opposition.