Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n
HARRISBURG \u2014 Gov. Josh Shapiro<\/a> is expected to dramatically restrict data center development in Pennsylvania via a sweeping executive order Tuesday, marking a major shift from his initial embrace of the increasingly unpopular projects<\/a>.<\/p>\n Shapiro, a first-term Democrat running for reelection and rumored 2028 presidential contender, had been an early champion of data center development in the state, including a fast-track permitting initiative and a $20 billion commitment from Amazon to build at least two data centers in Bucks and Luzerne Counties. <\/p>\n Now, he\u2019s joining a growing group of bipartisan governors who are trying to slow \u2014 and, in some cases, nearly stop \u2014 data center development as opposition reaches a fever pitch.<\/p>\n \u00bb READ MORE: How Josh Shapiro\u2019s early embrace of data centers is testing his high popularity in Pennsylvania<\/a><\/p>\n The far-reaching executive order does not include a moratorium on data center development, according to an early draft obtained by The Inquirer. However, Shapiro will require local approval for projects to receive state permits, which in effect may block many developments from moving forward.<\/p>\n Shapiro will use his executive powers to push through his previously proposed Governor\u2019s Responsible Infrastructure Development standards<\/a> \u2014 initially pitched as a voluntary incentive that failed to receive support from the politically split General Assembly \u2014 as requirements for any data center project to move forward. <\/p>\n Shapiro\u2019s order will also:<\/p>\n Remove all data center developments, including those by Amazon, from the fast-track permitting program, and no data centers will be considered for the program moving forward.<\/p>\n Require data center projects to sign legally binding agreements to certain transparency and environmental requirements in GRID, such as water conservation standards and early and transparent public notification of proposed projects ahead of key local approvals. <\/p>\n Prohibit any state agency from signing a non-disclosure agreement related to a data center project. <\/p>\n Instruct the Department of Environmental Protection to publish a publicly accessible map of current permitting information for all proposed data center projects.<\/p>\n Mandate that the projects bring their own electricity generation and pay all costs associated with increased energy usage.<\/p>\n Require a community-benefit agreement that includes promises to hire and train local employees, and developer investments in schools or infrastructure.<\/p>\n Underscore Pennsylvania\u2019s unique state constitutional rights to clean air, pure water, and environmental preservation \u2014 a focus of many residents who oppose data center projects.<\/p>\n Shapiro is expected to deliver remarks in Harrisburg before signing the order, touching on his visit to Archbald, a rural town in Northeastern Pennsylvania set for widespread data center developments. He\u2019ll also likely discuss his opposition to a controversial project in his home county<\/a>, Montgomery County<\/a>, which he recently denounced. <\/p>\n Shapiro has previously said his position on data centers has evolved. But his order Tuesday is perhaps his most dramatic change: He\u2019s gone from consulting Amazon and the data center industry<\/a> on his GRID principles earlier this year, to pulling the tech giant and others from the state\u2019s fast-track permitting program and requiring community-benefits agreements for the projects to move forward. <\/p>\n \u00bb READ MORE: Pa. state lawmakers found common ground on this data center policy \u2014 but still couldn\u2019t reach a deal<\/a><\/p>\n It was not immediately clear how Shapiro\u2019s executive order will affect the Amazon projects already underway and other data center projects that have already been issued permits. Shapiro\u2019s office previously said that while there are more than 100 speculative projects across the state, only six data center projects are under construction and only 10 have received at least one state-level permit approval.<\/p>\n If developers do not agree to Shapiro\u2019s GRID requirements, their permit applications will be held in limbo by DEP until after they receive local approvals. They will also be ineligible for a popular sales-tax exemption currently available to data center projects in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n Shapiro and the General Assembly have been under pressure by anti-data center activists to enact guardrails on the massive projects, with many arguing that Pennsylvania moved too quickly and sacrificed the state\u2019s safety in favor of Big Tech. Pennsylvania lawmakers nearly unanimously supported ending the sales-tax exemption<\/a> for the projects, but failed to implement it during the spring legislative session.<\/p>\n This is a developing story and will be updated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min HARRISBURG \u2014 Gov. 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