Growing Public Dissent Over Data Centers Shakes Pennsylvania Politics
In Pennsylvania, the wave of discontent surrounding data centers is reshaping the political landscape. With elections on the horizon, both Democratic and Republican candidates are swiftly adjusting their strategies to address public concerns.
Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat seeking reelection, has been actively addressing the issue alongside his opponent, Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity. Just a year ago, Shapiro had endorsed Amazon’s $20 billion investment in Pennsylvania for data center construction, declaring it a pivotal move to revitalize local communities.
JOSH SHAPIRO: For too long, we’ve watched as towns across Pennsylvania got hollowed out and left behind. No more. Now is our time to rebuild those communities and invest in them.
Garrity, who initially celebrated the Amazon project for the promised job creation, also highlighted the suitability of rural Pennsylvania for hosting data centers.
STACY GARRITY: What perfect places to put data centers.
Fast forward to today, and the scenario has shifted dramatically. With around 100 new data centers proposed, communities are urging lawmakers to slow the industry’s rapid expansion. Responding to the public outcry, Garrity has now advocated for a temporary halt on data center development.
GARRITY: A pause doesn’t mean you have to pause for a year. A pause means you have to pause to make sure that you get it right to make sure that there’s balance.
In response, Shapiro has proposed new regulatory measures for data centers. During a visit to Archbald, a potential site for several data centers, he acknowledged community concerns.
SHAPIRO: It is clear to me that there are real concerns in the communities all across Pennsylvania, especially here in Archbald. And I want you to know that I have real concerns as well.
Last month, Shapiro took action by signing an executive order mandating transparency and environmental responsibility from data center companies. Reflecting on the Amazon deal, he expressed disappointment over speculative proposals that disregard community interests.
SHAPIRO: Since then, we have seen an unacceptable number of speculative proposals for data center development that is swamping our commonwealth, many of them led by developers who have no regard for local communities.
Political science expert Chris Borick from Lehigh University highlights the unexpected speed at which public opinion has shifted, catching many politicians off guard.
CHRIS BORICK: And what happened, I think, to not only Garrity and Shapiro, but almost any elected official, was that they were caught off guard in some ways by the speed and intensity of the shift in public attitudes.
Across the nation, similar calls for caution are emerging from governors like Kathy Hochul in New York and Greg Abbott in Texas. Borick emphasizes the widespread dissatisfaction with how the data center issue has been managed, posing a challenge for incumbents.
BORICK: And you look at almost any polling metric right now in Pennsylvania and beyond, and it’s clear that people are not at all enamored with the way the issue’s been handled to date. That’s a problem for incumbents.
As the political contest heats up, both Pennsylvania campaigns are releasing advertisements promising tougher stances on data centers. Meanwhile, residents continue to voice their concerns in community meetings across the state, resisting the presence of data centers in their neighborhoods.
For more information, visit NPR.
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