In a major shift, Gov. Josh Shapiro restricts data center development in Pennsylvania

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a sweeping executive order on Tuesday dramatically restricting data center development in Pennsylvania, marking a major shift from his initial embrace of the increasingly unpopular projects.

Shapiro, a first-term Democrat running for reelection and a rumored 2028 presidential contender, had been an early champion of data center development in the state, including a $20 billion commitment from Amazon to build at least two data centers in Bucks and Luzerne Counties.

Now he is taking a hard-line stance against the burgeoning data center industry he once courted, as proposed projects draw increasing bipartisan backlash across Pennsylvania.

I’m as conservative or more so than most but good on Shapiro. A blind squirrel found a nut!
We might need these data centers, but let them put them in very very low population centers, or in areas that have sufficient water to run them. Not on sides of mountains that have absolutely no water like off the Casey highway in NE Pa or in Berks County which has hardly any serious number of lakes.

I don’t understand the fear of data centers. Possibly they became associated with Elon Musk and “The EVIL BILLIONAIRES.” The proposed centers I’ve read about are building out their own power. We can be assured that the people planning to spend their own money on them have taken into account the water requirements. And they represent income in taxes and employment. So, what’s the rub? They look like win/win operations to me.

Someone please give me rational reasons why not to build them.

He didn’t really find a nut. He just knows people don’t want those data centers in their space.

He also knows that Trump goes on about how great they will be in your area.

This guy would probably be for them too after he gets elected.

I wonder how many politicians in wealthy communities have a big old data center yucking up their community next to their mansions?

"Someone please give me rational reasons why not to build them."

I agree.

It's possible that Shapiro is only addressing practical concerns and not squeezing "evil corporations" for campaign contributions, possible.

How likely is it?
How honest is a typical Democrat politician?

There is a huge amount of funding and effort of anti-Data Center activity coming from Communist China. And there is a reason they are doing that.

We aren’t spending any effort to make China suppress or fall behind in the effort to harness AI because it won’t make any impact.

However, planting the seeds of dissent and ignorance in Western Countries (specifically your primary economic and military foe in the form of the United States) yields great returns.

AI is here. It isn’t going away. If we don’t use it, other countries are going to drive it. Does anyone here want the absolutely tyrannical and brutal Communist Chinese Regime to drive this technology?

We are struggling to claw back Industry from a country we so passively and voluntarily surrendered it to for decades?

It is asinine. Why the HELL should we do this based on fear, especially fear SPECIFICALLY generated by a mortal enemy such as Communist China?

I think it is absolutely infantile, even insane, to not only voluntarily, but to openly and willingly collaborate with a known enemy such as the Communist Chinese to advance their goals.

This willing abdication to Communist Chinese machinations is self-destructive. And worse, to do it out of fear. There is a lot to be concerned with about AI. But approaching this under the whip, direction, and corrosive coaxing and ear-whispering of that evil regime is worse than self-destructive. It is suicidal.

“We can be assured that the people planning to spend their own money on them have taken into account the water requirements.”

When someone comes into your community and wants approval for a major project you do not give them any benefit of any doubt.

You make them prove everything.

We cannot be assured of anything.

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