Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA) signed an executive order aimed at stopping the growth of AI data centers.
“EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: I’m putting AI data center developers on notice,” he wrote on X. “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.”
“Pennsylvanians deserve the right to say NO to unwanted AI data center projects and block developers who are trying to bully their way into our neighborhoods without addressing neighbors’ concerns.”
According to the order, the Department of Environmental Protection must only review permit applications if developers make a legally binding commitment to meet the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Requirements. The order states that many data center proposals “are speculative in nature, with no identified end user, but comprise plans that, if realized, would add significant burdens to the local community – including energy costs, noise pollution, and more – absent sufficient efforts to mitigate those impacts.”
The order details “strict guardrails” for data center developers that focus on energy affordability, community engagement, economic development, and environmental protection.
Texas has also paused the development of data centers, with Governor Greg Abbott (R) ordering an audit to be conducted on data center approvals after mounting concerns over power generation. Abbott directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to conduct the audit, which must be completed before any data center development continues. According to Abbott’s office, about 90% of the new energy requests come from data centers. The overall demand is more than five times the state’s peak electricity requests, which “could endanger the reliability and stability of the Texas electric grid.”
