Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signs an executive order imposing new requirements on data center projects, including getting approval from local officials
Shapiro, a potential Democratic 2028 contender, earlier welcomed data center developments. His new executive order takes a starkly different tone toward the industry.
NBC NewsAllan Smith
Context & Ripple Effects
Pennsylvania's shift from welcoming data-center development to requiring local approval puts Shapiro alongside states revisiting the terms of expansion. Illinois moved to pause data-center tax breaks pending a development framework, while Texas officials outlined ways to make facilities bear more of their growth costs.
New York's legislature has gone further with a one-year moratorium on new large data centers awaiting the governor's action. Pennsylvania is not adopting that approach, but it adds a local political gate to projects that had been encouraged at the state level.
First-order effects
Data-center developers in Pennsylvania must now secure approval from local officials, adding a required decision point to project siting and development.
Local officials gain formal leverage over whether proposed facilities proceed, while Shapiro's administration changes the conditions under which it supports new development.
Second-order effects
Developers weighing Pennsylvania sites must account for local approval risk alongside incentives and infrastructure, as neighboring state policy approaches range from Illinois's tax-break pause to Texas's cost-allocation recommendations.
Local approval makes community-facing commitments more central to project planning because a project's path now depends directly on municipal decision-makers.
Third-order effects
If similar state actions persist, data-center expansion will be governed less by statewide recruitment alone and more by locally negotiated conditions, with each state setting a different permitting, incentive, or cost-sharing model.
The pattern strengthens the political momentum for additional state restrictions identified by AI advocates, turning data-center growth into a durable issue of infrastructure social license rather than a purely economic-development decision.
The trend: US states are shifting data-center policy from unconditional recruitment toward approval processes and rules that assign more local and public accountability to rapid infrastructure growth.
BREAKING: I just signed an Executive Order implementing the strictest standards in the nation for AI data centers — because I will not allow Pennsylvanians to be bullied by greedy developers and bulldozed by the lawyers working for these big tech companies. Effective immediately…
Is the anti-data-center movement really gaining this much traction? This makes me wonder if maybe I'm in a bit of a pro-tech bubble b/c most people I know think this is stupid.
For a moderate Democrat and a top presidential candidate to go this hard against AI data centers IS NOT A GREAT SIGN for the political backdrop. Very disappointing. Josh knows better...Shapiro's order stops short of a blanket moratorium on data center development...
Does he think Pennsylvanians are dumb? As if there aren't articles all over the internet from when he was in love with Data Centers about 15 minutes ago? He is an empty suit. He has no policy positions. He will say whatever he has to say to get elected. Shady Josh Shapiro is a
Data centers have a big PR problem. Shapiro was one of the most pro-data-center governors until recently. They poll poorly locally, and his opponent called for a pause. His EO is milder than other states' moratoriums, but still its a huge pivot.
Pay attention, big tech. This guy was supposed to be one of the sane, technocratic democrats. And now he's caving to data center hysteria while Trump supports them. The individual characteristics of dem politicians don't matter. They're all mouthpieces for the leftist borg.
what is this nonsense on data centers from Gov. Josh Shapiro about being “bullied by greedy developers”? Nobody is being bullied into building data centers in their states or communities. They decide willingly if they are going to bring those investments and economic and job
every blue state governor will instantly roll over to the conspiracy/degrowth crowd. too easy. as I keep saying, data centers on a go-forward basis will just be a red state thing. red state politicians shouldn't let insane degrowth leftists poison the well.
this comes after @DeSmog published this story on shapiro admin talks with the developer he is now calling out i have seen these emails myself and uh, folks, this is what we call a 180°
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: I'm putting AI data center developers on notice. If they want to even think about doing business in Pennsylvania, they must adhere to the strictest standards in the nation — AND get approval from the local community...
This is the moderate position in the Democratic Party now. I think what's going to happen is that data center are going to go to less populist, wealthier areas. Poor regions continue shooting themselves in the foot.