Pennsylvania governor signs order imposing new rules to set up AI data centers in state
The order requires local approval, bans nondisclosure agreements and makes developers pay their own power costs as more than 100 proposals are under review.
- Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2026-05, establishing new rules and guardrails for data center development across the state.
- The order directs the Department of Environmental Protection to process state permit applications only if developers sign legally binding commitments to meet the Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development standards and obtain prior approval from local municipal governments.
- Under the new rules, developers must cover all electricity generation, grid transmission, and utility infrastructure costs required for their facilities to prevent increased energy bills for local residents and businesses.
- The executive order immediately excludes all artificial intelligence data center proposals from Pennsylvania's fast-track permitting program, prohibiting expedited state-level reviews for these projects.
- Data center developers are strictly barred from using non-disclosure agreements with local municipalities and are required to publicly report detailed energy and water consumption data.
57 Articles
57 Articles
Pennsylvania governor signs order imposing new rules to set up AI data centers in state
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on Tuesday signed an executive order that would require companies setting up AI data centers in the state to meet environmental and transparency safeguards and secure local community approval for the projects.
Shapiro signs order to tighten oversight of data center developments
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro chided the speculative nature of data center proposals on Tuesday, criticizing developers for pushing projects onto communities that he said would never be built and signing an executive order seeking to establish the nation’s…
Gov. Josh Shapiro takes a hard line against ‘predatory’ data center developers in Pennsylvania
Shapiro, a potential Democratic 2028 contender, earlier welcomed data center developments. His new executive order takes a starkly different tone toward the industry.
Gov. Josh Shapiro announces new limits on data centers in Pennsylvania
More governors are shifting their stances or taking steps to squeeze data centers as the midterm elections near and public opinion sours on the energy-hungry behemoths tech giants are building to fuel artificial intelligence products and cloud computing.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 59% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
