Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro cracks down on data centers, says speculators are 'scaring our communities'
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has announced a crackdown on data center development, removing them from fast-track permitting processes. The policy grants local communities the power to veto projects, citing concerns over aggressive developer tactics and the potential for facilities to overwhelm local infrastructure.
Why it matters
This move reflects a growing national trend of state governments reining in the rapid expansion of energy-intensive AI data centers due to public pushback and infrastructure strain.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said that some data center developers have been "scaring" and "bullying" communities. Tom Brenner/Bloomberg via Getty Images Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced a crackdown on data centers. Shapiro said that incomplete and lackluster proposals are overwhelming local officials. He said the speculators are "scaring our communities." Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is cracking down on data centers, becoming the latest state leader to scale back support for the massive facilities critical to the future of AI. Shapiro painted a stark picture of communities being overrun by half-baked data center proposals, even as he stressed that only five such facilities have the permits they need to begin operating. "These speculators are nevertheless scaring our communities — being aggressive with township officials, bullying our neighbors, and refusing to listen to the people of Pennsylvania," Shapiro said during an announcement Tuesday in Harrisburg.
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