Pennsylvania’s biggest proponent of data centers is Governor Josh Shapiro. Let me say it again, some don’t want to hear it or haven’t heard it. Pennsylvania’s biggest proponent of data centers is Governor Josh Shapiro.

On June 9, 2025, Shapiro welcomed Amazon Web Services to Pennsylvania with open arms. Amazon Web Services is the largest operator of data centers in the entire world.

“Pennsylvania is competing again – and I’m proud to announce that with Amazon’s commitment of at least $20 billion to build new state-of-the-art data center campuses across our Commonwealth, we have secured the largest private sector investment in the history of Pennsylvania,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “This initial investment from Amazon will create thousands of good-paying, stable jobs as Pennsylvania workers build, maintain, and operate the first two data center campuses in Luzerne County and Bucks County. Our team worked closely with local leaders and Amazon to land this deal, and we continue to be actively engaged on securing additional sites in Pennsylvania – helping them secure local support, developing the infrastructure needed to support more data centers, and ensuring our permitting processes move quickly and efficiently. With this historic announcement, we’re creating opportunity for our workers, generating new revenue for our local communities, and ensuring the future of AI runs right through Pennsylvania.”

In the quote above, taken from a Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development press release, Shapiro confirms that he is actively engaged in site selection for data centers, securing local support (you know, your municipal-level elected officials) for data centers, and speeding up the permitting process for data centers. Please note that this is generally speaking and not specific to the data centers proposed in Upper Merion or Conshohocken (Plymouth Township).

No one is more all-in on data centers than Governor Josh Shapiro. As he famously and cringe-worthy likes to say, “He is getting shit done.”

Unfortunately, not many people who have been actively opposing data centers grasp this. They ridicule the local developer/land owner. They accuse the local municipal officials of taking back-room deals.

The developers are just chasing the industry that Governor Josh Shapiro has brought to the state and promised to fast-track. You may not like the developers, but the conductor of this train is Governor Josh Shapiro.

Local officials are left to respond to a fast-growing industry, even faster technological changes, outdated zoning codes, and the governor’s Presidential ambitions.

Now, we would like to point something out.

Earlier this week, Governor Josh Shapiro decided he was going to get shit done and hold data center development (that he kicked off and celebrated) accountable. He announced and released the “Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Standards to Protect Pennsylvanians and Establish Strict Guardrails to Hold Data Center Developers Accountable.”

Through GRID, Shapiro is seeking to address many of the concerns brought by those opposed to data centers, such as energy, the environment, noise, and water. Shapiro is not proposing to ban data centers or have a moratorium.

We don’t think GRID will impress those opposed to data centers. They aren’t looking for guardrails; they are looking for bans. They don’t want one in their community.

So, for everyone who has called local developer Brian O’Neill evil and a villain, are you willing to say that about Governor Josh Shapiro? Are you willing to impact his poll numbers in PA as he prepares to run for President?

If not, then plan to welcome a data center in your community.

Photo: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Shapiro at Amazon announcement