United States of America

PA Gov. Shapiro Tightens Rules for Data Centers

Is this bold leadership on behalf of residents or just political opportunism?

5 hours ago·Updated 2 hours ago

PA Gov. Shapiro Tightens Rules for Data Centers

Story

Above: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro in New York, U.S., on April 8. Image credit: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Spin

Democratic narrative

Pennsylvania's new executive order gives residents the protection they deserve. Since AI took off, speculators have been bullying townships, hiding basic project details behind NDAs and refusing to pay their fair share of energy costs. This ends now, with legal requirements for community approval, local hiring and full energy cost coverage putting the power in the hands of citizens, not corporations.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Republican narrative

Barely a year ago, Shapiro was championing data centers, calling Pennsylvania the future home of AI. Now that public opinion has shifted, he's changed gears, signing executive orders to block them. With the Senate having already passed transparency measures and moving to revoke the sales tax exemption, there was no need for this grandiose measure, exposing it for what it is — pure political opportunism.

Republican Party of Pennsylvania on X Senator Pittman