Garrity calls on Shapiro to return $5.7M in data center-related donations
Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity has called on Governor Josh Shapiro to return $5.7 million in campaign donations from entities linked to the AI data center industry, accusing him of a policy reversal under political pressure. Garrity criticized Shapiro's executive order on data center development as insincere and proposed her own stricter regulations, including a pause on new projects. Shapiro's campaign dismissed Garrity's accusations, defending his efforts to regulate data center development.
Republican gubernatorial candidate and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity urged Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro to return $5.7 million in campaign contributions from donors connected to the AI data center industry. Garrity accused Shapiro of "selling out" Pennsylvania communities before a recent policy reversal, highlighting a video where Shapiro enthusiastically promoted a $20 billion Amazon investment in AI data centers, including facilities planned for Falls Township and Salem Township.
Shapiro's administration recently issued an executive order requiring new data centers to comply with his Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Requirements, granting local municipalities more authority over siting decisions. However, Garrity dismissed this as a politically motivated move, suggesting it was based on polling rather than principle. She proposed a pause on new data center development to allow municipalities to update zoning ordinances and outlined stricter requirements, such as mandating closed-loop water systems, independent water and energy supplies, and construction on brownfield sites.
The Shapiro campaign, through spokesman Manuel Bonder, countered Garrity's claims, stating her record supports unregulated data center development and accusing her of flip-flopping. Bonder criticized Garrity for supporting "special interests over Pennsylvania communities."