Shapiro Pulls Data Centers From Fast Track as Fewer Than 30% Back Local Projects
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 27
Shapiro Pulls Data Centers From Fast Track as Fewer Than 30% Back Local Projects
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 27
Summary
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro removed data center projects from the state’s Fast Track permitting program, tightening development rules as opposition spreads.
Fewer than 30% of Americans support a data center in their community, with residents focused on potential increases in power bills, water use and noise rather than AI growth promises.
That backlash is already shaping policy elsewhere: Texas paused new projects for audits, while Georgia adopted rules to stop data-center service costs from being shifted to households and small businesses.
Supporters argue the industry can still win approval by showing local benefits and reducing impacts, pointing to Loudoun County data centers generating nearly half of property-tax revenue and Quincy funding a $120 million high school.