Josh Shapiro is betting big on artificial intelligence. The question is whether Pennsylvania residents will end up footing the bill, writes Zoë Read for WHYY.
The Abington native and Pennsylvania governor recently finalized a set of accountability standards aimed at turning the Commonwealth into a magnet for data center investment.
The plan offers developers a carrot: streamlined permitting and potential tax benefits. But to collect, they have to meet strict requirements tied to energy use, water conservation, community investment, and environmental protections.
The Stakes
Pennsylvania is not quietly watching the AI boom from the sidelines. More than 50 data centers are currently proposed, planned, or under construction across the state, including projects connected to Amazon’s $20 billion commitment to build AI innovation campuses here.
Last year, U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick hosted the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit in Pittsburgh, where President Donald Trump joined technology and energy executives to announce more than $90 billion in private-sector investments for the Commonwealth.
Supporters say the payoff is real: jobs, tax revenue, and a stronger economic foundation for a state that has long sought a bigger footprint in the tech sector.
The Backlash
Not everyone is convinced. Residents and environmental groups have raised alarms about what large-scale data center development could mean for electricity bills, air quality, and drinking water.
In other parts of the country, data centers have strained local grids and drawn down aquifers.
Shapiro has heard the criticism.
“I’ve heard directly from Pennsylvanians who are concerned about the impact data center development could have on their communities, the environment, and their utility bills,” he said in a statement.
The Opposition
For some advocates, the plan does not go far enough. Food and Water Watch Pennsylvania Director Megan McDonough did not mince words.
“Voluntary half-measures from corporations who want to exploit our state for profits will never protect our water, energy costs, and quality of life,” McDonough said. “Yet that’s what he’s offering as his strongest proposal.”
The core criticism is the voluntary nature of the program. Developers are not required to meet Shapiro’s standards to build in Pennsylvania. They simply would not qualify for state support if they do not.
The Bottom Line
Pennsylvania has real assets in this race: energy resources, a skilled workforce, and proximity to a huge share of the U.S. population. Shapiro has leaned into all of it.
But with a divided legislature and a public increasingly skeptical of big tech’s promises, the framework alone may not be enough. The AI boom is coming to Pennsylvania. The fight now is over who controls the terms.
Read more about what Governor Shapiro is saying about the future of data centers in Pennsylvania in WHYY.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on MONTCO.Today in June 2026.
