Shapiro Imposes Data Center Guardrails in Pennsylvania as 75% of Americans Oppose Local Projects
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 31
Shapiro Imposes Data Center Guardrails in Pennsylvania as 75% of Americans Oppose Local Projects
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 31
Summary
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro this month issued an executive order adding new guardrails to data center projects, after previously promoting the sector and streamlining development.
Three in four Americans now oppose data centers in their communities, according to Heatmap Pro and Embold Research, with opposition spanning Republicans, independents and Democrats.
$130 billion in projects were delayed or canceled in the first quarter, and about 500 jurisdictions have passed bans or moratoriums, including 150 local bans in July alone.
Governors in Texas, New York and other states have also moved to pause approvals or tighten rules, showing the backlash has spread well beyond Democratic strongholds.
The fight has become a broader political test of AI-era growth, as voters increasingly link data centers to higher power costs, local disruption and tech-industry overreach.