Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Candidates Discuss Energy Policy Amid Rising Bills
Pennsylvania's gubernatorial candidates, Josh Shapiro and Stacy Garrity, are debating energy policy amidst rising utility bills, a problem exacerbated by data center development. Both aim to increase energy generation but differ on the type of energy and regulatory approaches. Shapiro has implemented a 'Fast Track Program' for permitting, which has accelerated data center projects, while Garrity proposes massive tax cuts and reforms to natural gas permitting.
The race for Pennsylvania governor between Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and Republican challenger State Treasurer Stacy Garrity centers heavily on energy policy and rising utility costs, which both candidates agree have been exacerbated by data center development.
Governor Shapiro advocates for an "all of the above" energy strategy, including clean energy and traditional oil and gas. He has taken an aggressive stance against utility profit increases and implemented a "Lightning Plan" to incentivize clean energy and lower prices, though portions are stalled in the GOP-led Senate. Shapiro also signed an executive order in 2024 creating a "Fast Track Program" to expedite permitting for economic development projects, including data centers for companies like Amazon Web Services and a proposed gas-fired power plant in Indiana County for on-site data centers. This move has drawn both praise from developers and criticism from environmental advocates concerned about potential impacts.
Stacy Garrity, on the other hand, emphasizes significantly increasing natural gas production. She proposes lifting a ban on new drilling sites in state parks and forests and calling a special legislative session to fast-track permits for natural gas projects. Garrity also supports eliminating a 5.9% state electricity tax to immediately lower residents' bills, proposing to offset the revenue loss through expanded natural gas production. She has criticized the speed of the Department of Environmental Protection's permitting process and suggests limiting data center developments to brownfields and industrial sites.