Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro takes a hard line against data centers
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has issued an executive order imposing stricter regulations on data center developments. The order removes these projects from fast-track permitting and requires developers to secure local approval and meet specific community and environmental standards.
Why it matters
This move reflects a growing trend of local governments pushing back against the rapid expansion of energy-intensive data centers, potentially impacting big tech infrastructure plans.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has ordered new restrictions on data center projects in the state. Under the new order, companies will be required to obtain local approval for such projects, while data center developments will also be removed from Pennsylvania’s fast-track permitting program. Announcing the executive order this week, Shapiro said he had “heard loud and clear from the good people of Pennsylvania” and would not allow developers or technology companies to push projects through communities without local consent.“I’ve heard loud and clear from the good people of Pennsylvania as I’ve traveled our commonwealth, and I’m here to say today that we will not be bullied by these developers,” Shapiro said. “We will not be bulldozed by the lawyers working for these big tech companies. That will not happen in the commonwealth.
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