The rapid expansion of data centers in Pennsylvania has sparked a heated debate among state leaders and community members, with Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity advocating for a temporary halt in development. During a roundtable in Luzerne County, Garrity expressed concerns shared by residents about the swift growth of these facilities.
“As I’m traveling around on the campaign trail, all I hear about is frustration, and that’s to put it mildly, with the rapid growth of data centers,” Garrity remarked. “We were even in a rodeo in Franklin County Saturday night, and you would think that would be the … last place people wanted to talk about data centers, and that’s what everybody brought up.”
Garrity’s call for a pause comes shortly after Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro visited Archbald, a key location for data center development in the state, to announce new standards for developers seeking state support. These guidelines, part of the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) standards, aim to ensure transparency, environmental sustainability, and community benefits from data center projects.
Garrity Criticizes Timing of Shapiro’s Standards
Governor Shapiro’s recent release of the final GRID standards coincided with his visit to Archbald. The standards require developers to reveal project proposers, create their own power sources, and comply with sustainability measures to qualify for tax exemptions. Garrity accused Shapiro of inconsistency, noting his previous support for Amazon’s $20 billion investment in state infrastructure.
“At the time the governor said that he was proud of the project, that he worked very closely to seal the deal,” Garrity stated. “Now, the problem is they didn’t bring everybody to the table, right, and so didn’t bring all the key stakeholders, so local governments and, you know, communities.”
Shapiro’s spokesperson, Manuel Bonder, defended the governor’s actions, emphasizing collaboration with community and environmental leaders to craft robust regulations. “The governor has made it clear that while we compete for major projects and lead on innovation, we must set strict standards and ensure these projects benefit our communities and don’t impose costs on Pennsylvanians — and that’s what he is focused on getting done,” Bonder asserted.
The Call for a Pause
While Garrity does not endorse a complete halt, she advocates for a pause to give local governments time to implement zoning laws for data centers. Wilkes-Barre Township’s zoning officer, Tom Zedolick, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that a pause could help towns better understand the implications of data centers and update their ordinances accordingly.
Garrity believes a pause would also pressure developers to contribute to community improvement projects and manage their power needs without burdening other ratepayers. These requirements align with Shapiro’s GRID standards, which mandate a community benefit plan and energy commitments from developers.
Community Concerns
Luzerne County Councilman John Lombardo criticized the lack of communication from the governor’s office regarding data centers, calling for state-level support to address the issue. Wilkes-Barre Township Solicitor John Rodgers highlighted the challenges municipalities face due to inadequate zoning laws.
“And that’s the real problem, and that’s where the state could get involved,” Rodgers said. “It’s a typical issue in Harrisburg, it could be fixed right away, but it seems like Harrisburg doesn’t fix anything, they just throw it back on the municipalities and give it to us to fix.”
Federal and Bipartisan Dynamics
Endorsed by former President Donald Trump, Garrity attended a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago in March. Trump, a strong advocate for national data center expansion, signed an executive order to streamline federal permitting for these facilities. Despite this, Garrity emphasizes the need for balanced development that considers community needs.
Data center development has emerged as a bipartisan issue, complicating the political landscape. Muhlenberg University professor Chris Borick noted that the topic transcends political divisions and influences various electoral races. Borick suggested that Garrity’s call for a pause might resonate with voters concerned about data center proliferation, potentially boosting her campaign against Shapiro.
