A recent poll conducted by The Inquirer, The New York Times, and Siena University found that 60% of likely Pennsylvania voters oppose the development of data centers. Opposition is particularly strong among younger voters, with 83% of those aged 18 to 29 and 71% of those aged 30 to 44 against the construction of these facilities. This public sentiment has made data center development a central issue in the Pennsylvania gubernatorial race and other midterm elections, despite the United States pursuing $2.3 trillion in data center projects nationwide.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who initially welcomed data center developments and championed a $20 billion investment from Amazon for two data center campuses, has since shifted his position. Last week, he announced plans to restrict data center development in response to growing public animosity. Shapiro's administration will no longer fast-track permitting or grant lucrative tax exemptions to developers who do not meet new standards, such as paying the full cost of electricity and demonstrating water-saving technologies. Developers must also secure local approval before seeking state approval. This change of heart comes after a July Quinnipiac University poll indicated that while 56% of voters approved of Shapiro overall, only 24% approved of his handling of data center development.
Residents' concerns about data centers include fears of increased electricity costs, excessive water usage, decreased home values, noise pollution, and environmental impacts. Kelly Harrington, a 29-year-old from Conshohocken, voiced concerns about her home value, noise, and air quality, in addition to broader environmental worries. The issue has united diverse groups, with both Democrats and Republicans criticizing each other's past support for data centers, and even some MAGA voters and progressives finding common ground in opposing projects that they believe benefit wealthy outside interests at local expense.
Data centers are projected to be a key issue in the upcoming Pennsylvania gubernatorial election. Both Governor Shapiro and his Republican opponent, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, have released ads criticizing each other's past stances on data center development. The widespread opposition is reflected in polls, with a Muhlenberg College poll in March showing 64% of Pennsylvania adults viewing data centers as a crisis or problem. This issue has moved from committee rooms to the forefront of the governor's race, intertwining with concerns about affordability and the state's energy future.
