Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has issued an executive order establishing rigorous new oversight for data center development across the commonwealth. The move, announced Tuesday, aims to prevent developers from “running roughshod” over local communities. Shapiro, who previously facilitated a $20 billion Amazon investment for two data centers last year, emphasized that his current stance is a direct response to developers he believes are taking advantage of residents through speculative projects that offer little real-world value.
Speaking on “CBS Mornings” this Wednesday, the Democratic governor detailed his shift in policy, which was informed by direct feedback from constituents. Shapiro described visiting sites like Eddie Staback Park in Lackawanna County, where a proposed facility threatened to disrupt a space used by local families. He also highlighted a project in Montgomery County, located just seven miles from his home, where he alleged a developer was disregarding community concerns. “We’ve seen too many developers who are trying to bulldoze our community with these speculative deals that are never going to come into reality, and they’re wreaking havoc on our neighbors,” Shapiro stated.
The new executive order mandates an intensive review process for any future data center proposals. Under these updated requirements, developers must secure municipal approval, demonstrate that their projects protect the local environment, and prove they can generate their own power. Shapiro characterized these as the strictest requirements in the nation, noting that the state remains open to serious proposals that enjoy local support and provide tangible benefits. He dismissed suggestions that the policy shift is politically motivated, framing it instead as a necessary protection for Pennsylvania residents.
The surge in demand for data centers—facilities housing the servers and storage drives essential for AI development—has sparked widespread public skepticism. Recent polling from and YouGov indicates that while many Americans lack deep familiarity with the technology, they are significantly more likely to oppose than support the construction of new data centers in their vicinity. Shapiro’s administration is now positioning the commonwealth to filter out speculative ventures while maintaining a path for sustainable infrastructure.
During his appearance on “CBS Mornings,” Shapiro also addressed broader national political trends, including questions from host Gayle King regarding the recent primary successes of the Democratic Socialists of America. While acknowledging that the Democratic Party will face internal ideological debates, Shapiro emphasized that the current priority is the upcoming election cycle. He expressed confidence in the electorate’s passion, stating, “There is a ton of passion in the electorate right now, and a desire to defeat Donald Trump’s chaos and cruelty and corruption, and people are showing up in record numbers. The thing we’ve got to focus on is winning in these midterms and defeating Donald Trump and his enablers.” The report also notes that where a developer is just thumbing his nose at the community, not listening to folks, i’m just about 7 miles away from a proposed project in a really densely populated area here in Montgomery County. The report also notes that shapiro, who is considered to be a potential 2028 presidential candidate, insisted this isn’t about politics, but about the people of Pennsylvania. The report also notes that yeah, I think we have to see what happens in the general election,” Shapiro said. The report also notes that storage drives and other related equipment that process everything from email traffic to software, data centers are facilities filled with networked computer servers. The report also notes that that’s not what happened a year ago when I did work with Amazon to bring those two data centers here in Pennsylvania. The report also notes that developers see an opportunity to take advantage of Pennsylvanians, but increasingly. The report also notes that i don’t want them here in Pennsylvania.
