Governor Josh Shapiro’s initiative to establish Pennsylvania as a leading data center hub is generating a conflict with the state’s climate leadership objectives, writes Jordan Teicher for Grid Philly.
In June, Shapiro announced that Amazon would invest $20 billion in two cloud computing and artificial intelligence data centers in Bucks and Luzerne counties, solidifying his efforts to position Pennsylvania as a leader in AI and data center infrastructure.
“Here in Pennsylvania we’ve got a winning team,” he said. “We also have a unique set of strengths that put us in a position to succeed, including our abundant energy resources and Pennsylvania’s great track record of innovation that dates back centuries.”
The “abundant energy resources” are a key part of the state’s appeal to energy-intensive data centers. Although renewable power is an option, gas plants offer a quicker and more dependable solution, complicating efforts to transition away from fossil fuels.
“We’re getting into this business without even paying attention to what it’s really going to mean for the future of the planet and for our communities,” said Karen Feridun, co-founder of the Better Path Coalition and No False Climate Solutions PA. “It’s just wrongheaded.”
Read more about the issue in the Grid Philly.
