Democratic, Governor of Pennsylvania
Now: Governor verified October 12, 2026 · source (opens in a new tab)
On your ballot Governor, Pennsylvania (certified list (opens in a new tab), verified October 15, 2026)
Checked · How the record reads leaders · Report a change · Corrections
Of 33 statements on the record, 2 were for data centers, 10 raised concerns about data centers, 1 was mixed and 20 carry no label.
Labels are applied by the record's published rules: two readings of each statement, and a third that reads its source where the two differ. Every label sits beside its statement and its source, and any label can be challenged through Report a change, with the correction logged on the corrections page.
Position History: Chronological record of positions across sourced statements.
- · Supports · Inquirer.com
- · Raises concern · TribLIVE.com
- · Raises concern · news.bloomberglaw.com
- · Raises concern · NBC News
Position note: Follows June 2025 announcements promoting a 20 billion dollar Amazon data center investment in Pennsylvania, before the August 2026 executive order establishing strict developer power and community rules.
- · Raises concern · news.bloomberglaw.com
- · Raises concern · news.bloomberglaw.com
- · Raises concern · The Center Square
- · Raises concern · E&E News by POLITICO
- · Raises concern · The Allegheny Front
- · Supports · Daily Kos
- · Mixed · earthworks.org
- · Raises concern · earthworks.org
- · Raises concern · WBFF
What they said
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Governor Shapiro's executive order, called the GRID Executive Order, requires data center developers to make legally binding commitments to self funding energy development, public outreach and transparency, workforce concessions, and environmental requirements.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: October 12, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Altoona Mirror (opens in a new tab), news outlet
Archived copy: Wayback Machine (opens in a new tab).
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Shapiro's approach to Pennsylvania's growing data center industry has shifted. He once celebrated the multimillion dollar investments, but introduced an executive order this summer that tightened restrictions on the AI infrastructure boom.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: October 8, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- WITF (opens in a new tab), local outlet
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Governor Josh Shapiro defended his executive order approach requiring local community approval before data center permitting, saying if a local community does not want a data center it will not be built and the proposal will not be heard by the Commonwealth for permitting
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: October 8, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- WGAL (opens in a new tab), local outlet
- Altoona Mirror (opens in a new tab), news outlet
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Governor Josh Shapiro said data center developers must generate their own power at developer expense, protect air and water, earn local community support through local ordinances or resolutions, include local labor, and include local benefits agreements before the Commonwealth considers permits
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: October 8, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- WTAE (opens in a new tab), local outlet
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Governor Shapiro stated his administration counted only five of more than 100 data center proposals statewide with permits to build, describing a Gold Rush atmosphere with developers bullying neighbors.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 29, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Creators Syndicate (opens in a new tab), news outlet
-
Governor Josh Shapiro has evolved his stance on data centers after once seeking to make it easier for projects to call Pennsylvania home
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 25, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Inquirer.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: No label: the words are not clearly the speaker's own. Both readings of the statement held it.
-
Pennsylvania governors including Shapiro are sounding a warning bell and imposing strict guardrails on data center development
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 25, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- PoliticsPA (opens in a new tab), local outlet
-
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro shifted from supporting data centers to favoring stricter regulation and community protection
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 22, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- NBC News (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: No label: the words are not clearly the speaker's own. The two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source held it.
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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro headlined a July 2025 summit celebrating 90 billion dollars in data center and AI infrastructure investment
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 22, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- TechCrunch (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: No label: the words are not clearly the speaker's own. The two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source held it.
-
Josh Shapiro called for strict guardrails on the development and use of advanced technology and signed an executive order imposing tight requirements and restrictions on data centers in Pennsylvania.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 21, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- WBFF (opens in a new tab), local outlet
- WCTI (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "called for strict guardrails on the development and use of advanced technology and signed an executive order imposing tight requirements and restrictions on data centers".
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Josh Shapiro characterized some data center projects as predatory and determined to stop bad proposals
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Governing (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Archived copy: Wayback Machine (opens in a new tab).
-
Executive order requires growing percentage of data center energy from clean firm resources, starting at 10 percent and climbing to 32 percent by 2035
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 11, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- earthworks.org (opens in a new tab), news outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "requires growing percentage of data center energy from clean firm resources, starting at 10 percent and climbing to 32 percent by 2035".
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Governor Josh Shapiro signed executive order on data centers on August 18, 2026, prohibiting non disclosure agreements and removing permit fast tracking
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 11, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- earthworks.org (opens in a new tab), news outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "prohibiting non disclosure agreements and removing permit fast tracking".
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Governor Shapiro rejected moratorium, saying 'we figured it out' regarding data center regulation
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 7, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Daily Kos (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "people who call for moratoriums or pauses, they're basically saying, let's stop and figure this out. Well, we figured it out.".
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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro shifted his stance from generally supporting data centers to placing restrictions after Republican opposition criticism, recently signing an executive order imposing new rules
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 25, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Brookings (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: No label: the words are not clearly the speaker's own. Both readings of the statement held it.
-
Governor Josh Shapiro mentioned his visit to Archbald ahead of signing an executive order reining in large scale data center development
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 21, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- The Allegheny Front (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "signing an executive order reining in large scale data center development".
-
Shapiro said Pennsylvania now has the strictest requirements in the entire country for data centers
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 19, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- CBS News (opens in a new tab), national outlet
-
Gov. Shapiro said: I will not allow Pennsylvanians to be bullied by greedy developers and bulldozed by the lawyers working for these big tech companies
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 19, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- E&E News by POLITICO (opens in a new tab), trade press
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "I will not allow Pennsylvanians to be bullied by greedy developers and bulldozed by the lawyers working for these big tech companies".
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Governor Josh Shapiro said while there are no AI data centers up and running in Pennsylvania right now, only five have the permits they would need to begin operating
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- The Shenandoah Sentinel (opens in a new tab), news outlet
-
Governor Josh Shapiro said there are more than 100 data center proposals under discussion in Pennsylvania
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- The Shenandoah Sentinel (opens in a new tab), news outlet
-
Josh Shapiro stated he announced two data center projects last year that would generate thousands of new jobs and bring in 20 billion dollars in new investment to Pennsylvania
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Washington Examiner (opens in a new tab), national outlet
-
Shapiro previously committed $20 billion from Amazon to build at least two data centers in Bucks and Luzerne Counties
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- TribLIVE.com (opens in a new tab), news outlet
-
Governor Shapiro branded more than 100 Pennsylvania data center proposals as mostly speculative
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: August 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- TribLIVE.com (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: ""Most of these proposals are completely speculative" and will never be built, Shapiro said at the time. He added, "These speculators are nevertheless scaring our communities."".
-
Developers must bring their own power and pay related electricity expenses
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- news.bloomberglaw.com (opens in a new tab), trade press
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "Developers must bring their own power and pay related electricity expenses".
-
Gov. Josh Shapiro characterized data center developers as predatory
Position note: Follows June 2025 announcements promoting a 20 billion dollar Amazon data center investment in Pennsylvania, before the August 2026 executive order establishing strict developer power and community rules.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: August 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- NBC News (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "signing an executive order to stop “predatory” backers and “bad proposals from infecting our commonwealth.”".
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Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania, stated the state has received more than 100 data center proposals from technology companies
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Washington Examiner (opens in a new tab), national outlet
-
Developers must use increasingly clean power sources
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- news.bloomberglaw.com (opens in a new tab), trade press
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "Developers must use increasingly clean power sources".
-
Developers must hire locally and offer robust community benefits agreement
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: August 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- news.bloomberglaw.com (opens in a new tab), trade press
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "Developers must hire locally and offer robust community benefits agreement".
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Gov. Josh Shapiro reversed course on data centers in August, characterizing most proposals as speculative.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: August 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- The Center Square (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: ""Most of these proposals are completely speculative" and will never be built, Shapiro said at the time. He added, "These speculators are nevertheless scaring our communities."".
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Governor Shapiro announced Amazon's $20 billion Pennsylvania investment including two data center campuses in Luzerne and Bucks Counties
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: August 11, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Inquirer.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "Pennsylvania’s gonna be better off. I think America’s gonna be better off, because we’re going to win the battle of AI supremacy".
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Shapiro has begun softening his position on data centers, going from consulting with Amazon and the industry to draft incentives to vowing executive actions to curb projects in communities that oppose them
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 11, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Inquirer.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet
- Governing (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: No label: the words are not clearly the speaker's own. Both readings of the statement held it.
-
Shapiro announced data center standards requiring at least 32% clean energy and community benefits agreements in exchange for tax breaks, announced in detail in June 2026
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: June 1, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Spotlight PA (opens in a new tab), local outlet
-
Shapiro announced a $20 billion Amazon Web Services investment in data centers for Pennsylvania in June 2025
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: June 1, 2025.
Primary Sources:
- Spotlight PA (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Where we looked
The record last searched for Josh Shapiro's words on October 20, 2026.
How they voted
No vote on a data center measure on the record.
Others in this race
- Stacy Lorraine Garrity Republican · Governor · the race page
- Kenneth V Krawchuk Libertarian · Governor · the race page
Something missing?
Know a sourced statement by Josh Shapiro on data centers that is not here? Send the link. It goes to the record's inbox as a card routed to this person and publishes only after it is read against its source.
Are you Josh Shapiro or on the campaign? Ask for a correction or send a statement, or email corrections@datacenterrecord.org.
Related
Projects named in these statements
Data Center Record, "Public statements by Josh Shapiro", https://datacenterrecord.org/speakers/josh-shapiro, last verified October 20, 2026.
Reusing this page
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Last verified: October 12, 2026.