(The Center Square) – The frustration, secrecy and chaos surrounding data center development proposals in Pennsylvania has spawned a Virtual Town Hall that will be attended by a number of state lawmakers – including one who says developers are “bullying” communities – but Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office has shunned the event.
A giant placard on the Town Hall saying “Governor Shapiro, you are cordially invited” was delivered by organizers to the governor’s suite in the state Capitol on May 5, along with petition placards supporting the invite. Organizers said other reachouts were made to Shapiro’s office and none have generated a response.
Asked on Tuesday why there was no response to the group, Shapiro’s press secretary, Rosie Lapowsky, said in a text, “What group? And have you confirmed we’ve received these invitations? And that we haven’t responded?”
Proposals to build sets of giant buildings stuffed with servers running on massive amounts of electricity have riled communities around the state. The sites often are near homes or in treasured scenic locations, and many local governments don’t have zoning language in place to deal with data centers.
One development proposal is being made with a block or two of the Schuylkill County home of Rep. Tim Twardzik. Much of it has happened “totally in secret,” said Twardzik, a Republican.
“These kind of operators come in and try to bully their way through a township,” Twardzik said. “It is just the wrong place.”
Shapiro has been an outspoken supporter of the development of artificial intelligence, which requires the massive amounts of computing capacity provided by data centers. Like President Donald Trump, he has said the nation must stay ahead of China in AI.
Shapiro also has acknowledged “real concerns” in communities and early this year proposed a set of principles for responsible data center development. They include having developers bring their own energy source; commit to strict transparency standards; hire local workers; and protect the environment.
So far, the Legislature has not passed a bill that would put Shapiro’s concepts – or any comprehensive set of standards – into state law.
Some community leaders are voting to go into a “curative amendment” process that allows them to redo their zoning language while creating a de facto six-month moratorium.
Speakers at the Virtual Town Hall are to include state Sen. Katie Muth, a Montgomery County Democrat who wants to initiate a three-year statewide moratorium on data center development; and Republican Rep. Jamie Walsh of Luzerne County.
Walsh plans to file bills that would allow municipalities to directly establish a moratorium on data center applications, and another that would repeal a sales tax break given to data center companies. Similar proposals are being made in the Senate by Republican Sen. Jarrett Coleman of Lehigh County.
“Our municipalities, which decide local land use policies, have struggled to understand the myriad environmental and community impacts of this new industry,” Walsh wrote in a memo.
Organizers of the Virtual Town Hall scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday include the Better Path Coalition, which describes itself as “a statewide frontline- and grassroots-led coalition.” Spokesperson Karen Feridun said at least nine state lawmakers are expected to speak or attend.
The giant invitation placard was brought to the doors of the Governor’s Reception Room in the Capitol on May 5 by a group that included Feridun. When they arrived, the reception room doors were open, but they were then closed and guarded by Capitol Police.
Requests to enter the room were denied, and the group held a press conference outside the doors. After more than half an hour elapsed, a police officer took the invitation and other placards into the reception room, according to both Feridun and Ginny Marcille-Kerslake, senior organizer for the advocacy nonprofit Food & Water Watch.
Other requests to Shapiro’s office concerning the meeting have been made via electronic portal, email, and phone, according to Feridun.
“There is just no response at all,” she said. “There is no way they don’t know this is happening.”
Lapowsky, after confirming the details of the event, provided a statement to The Center Square that reiterated the governor’s regulatory proposals.
“Governor Shapiro has heard directly from Pennsylvanians who are concerned about data center development, and he is committed to ensuring AI and data center growth strengthens communities, protects consumers, and puts Pennsylvanians first while taking advantage of the Commonwealth’s strengths for economic growth,” she said. “To balance innovation with accountability, deliver speed and certainty in permitting, and address these concerns, the Shapiro Administration introduced the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) standards.
“These standards make clear that if companies want the Commonwealth’s full support — including access to tax credits and faster permitting — they must meet strict expectations around transparency, environmental protection, and community impact. This is about setting a higher bar for projects, not lowering it, and ensuring development happens responsibly and in a way that benefits Pennsylvanians.”
