Data-center tracker website shows status of builds in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced a new website for public feedback on proposed data centers, alongside an executive order establishing new rules for development. These measures aim to implement some of the nation's strictest standards for data centers, addressing concerns about their environmental impact and demands on resources. Developers will face requirements for energy costs, community engagement, local hiring, and strict environmental protection.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced new transparency efforts and guardrails for data center developments, including a new website for public feedback on proposed projects. This follows an executive order signed Tuesday that establishes rules for data center development, described as some of the "strictest standards in the nation." The order aims to block "unwanted AI data center projects and greedy developers" by requiring developers to pay the full cost of energy, engage transparently with communities, hire and train local workers, invest locally, and meet high environmental standards, including strict water conservation.
The new PA Data Center Permit Tracker, a GIS-powered map, also shows proposed project locations and their environmental permit statuses. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will only review permit applications if developers make legally binding commitments to these standards and receive local approval. Governor Shapiro stated these actions were a response to extensive community outreach and concerns about the unprecedented number of data center proposals in the state and their demands on electricity, water, and land for AI infrastructure.