Josh Shapiro shifts policy to require local approval for Pennsylvania data centers despite previous support for infrastructure
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has changed his approach to data center development, moving from a position of active promotion to one of stricter regulation. While Josh Shapiro previously championed large-scale investments, including a $20 billion Amazon Web Services project, he recently announced that data centers will now require local approval before receiving state permits. This shift follows a period where Josh Shapiro welcomed data center infrastructure to the state, backing a $90 billion private investment in energy generation and workforce development. However, the administration announced stricter environmental standards for data centers to address concerns over electricity prices, water use, and local control. The administration announced that the new policy aims to address community concerns while maintaining the state's commitment to AI infrastructure. This change comes as data centers become a political issue ahead of the midterm elections, with other states like New York also implementing bans or restrictions on new large data center projects.
Sources
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Abundance Democrats Have a Data Center Problem
R Street Institute
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Is a data center planned near you in PA? Find out using this map
Chambersburg Public Opinion
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Governors who courted AI data centers are now trying to rein them in
Fast Company