Gov. Josh Shapiro issues a new executive order on data centers in Pennsylvania

Key Points:

• Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order imposing strict restrictions on data center projects, requiring local approval and adherence to guidelines including paying for their own power, hiring locally, and following water-conservation standards.
• The order removes data centers from the state's fast-track permitting program and bans nondisclosure agreements, reflecting Shapiro's shift from earlier support to opposition against speculative and aggressive developer proposals.
• Shapiro cited community concerns about environmental impact, rising power costs, and the character of local areas, blaming legislative gridlock for the need to act via executive order.
• The move aligns with broader political recalibrations on data center development amid growing opposition nationwide, including moratoriums in New York and Texas, as debates intensify over balancing economic benefits with local and environmental impacts.
• Shapiro emphasized that only a few projects have permits, while many speculative proposals disrupt communities, and stated his commitment to empowering local leaders and enforcing clear development rules in Pennsylvania.