Pa. Shapiro Signs Order Tightening Data Center Regulations

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, imposing sweeping new restrictions on the development of large data centers in the state, marking a significant policy reversal for the administration. The order removes data centers from the state's fast-track permitting program, requires developers to obtain local approvals before receiving state permits, and mandates that projects adhere to stringent new standards or face penalties.

The executive order, signed during a press conference in Harrisburg, establishes the Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development, or GRID, standards as legally binding requirements. These standards compel developers to secure their own electricity supply, including from clean energy sources, and pay all associated costs, preventing them from passing expenses onto residential and commercial utility customers. The order also mandates community benefits agreements, environmental protections aligned with the state's constitutional right to clean air and water, and transparency measures such as public reporting of energy and water use beginning in July 2027.

"We will not be bullied by these developers. We...