Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to Limit New Data Centers

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro issued an executive order imposing strict new restrictions on data center development in the state. The order requires data center projects to obtain local approval before receiving state permits, comply with water conservation standards, and cover their own electricity costs including supplying their own generation. Shapiro, a Democrat who previously supported data center growth, joins a widening wave of state and local pushback against AI-driven infrastructure expansion, including a Chicago moratorium and similar moves in the UK. The restrictions represent a meaningful shift in how states are responding to the resource demands of large-scale AI buildout.