Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order requiring data center developers in Pennsylvania to obtain local approval and meet additional regulatory requirements. The move comes as opposition to data center construction rises sharply among voters of both parties, according to recent survey data.
Data centers are increasingly a water story. Their cooling systems and the power plants that serve them put new pressure on local water supplies and streams, which is why watershed groups across our basin have been watching proposals closely. Groups in areas being scouted for data center development should follow how the order plays out in local permitting.
Read more at The Allegheny Front (August 19, 2026).
