Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2026-05 on August 18, implementing strict guardrails on AI data center development. The order removes all AI data center projects from Pennsylvania's Fast Track permitting process and prohibits use of nondisclosure agreements for data center projects. Developers must now sign legally binding consent orders committing to the Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) standards, which include full payment of electricity infrastructure costs, clean energy sourcing mandates, local community approval, and environmental protections.
The move reverses Shapiro's prior embrace of data-center growth. Pennsylvania has seen over 100 speculative data center proposals in the past year, though only five have received all permits needed to begin operations. Shapiro acknowledged hearing from residents in Archbald and Montgomery County concerned about "predatory" developers. The GRID standards passed the state House on a bipartisan basis but stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate, leaving Shapiro to implement them by executive authority.
For operators and architects, the order signals a consolidation of state-level restrictions. Developers must now cover infrastructure upgrades to the electrical grid themselves rather than socializing those costs across all ratepayers. Pennsylvania joins a growing coalition of states pushing back on speculative data center buildout; a July Quinnipiac poll found 74% of Pennsylvania voters oppose AI data center construction in their communities. The policy reflects broader tension between federal AI infrastructure push and local energy, water, and community impact concerns.