The move marks a dramatic about-face from the Pennsylvania governor, who last summer touted the benefits from Amazon’s $20 billion-plan to build two data center campuses in the state.
Since then, there has been a massive organizing push by People’s Action member group Pennsylvania Stands Up to reject sweetheart deals with AI data center developers, and an outpouring of grassroots resistance to data center projects from communities all across the state. Of 100 proposed data center projects in the state, only 5 have thus far received the necessary permits to operate.
“The feedback I’ve gotten from people in their communities has shaped my perspective on this,” Shapiro said.
Sites of resistance include Lancaster County, where more than five hundred residents turned out to a Borough of Columbia Council meeting to voice their opposition to a proposed data center at the shuttered McGuinness Airport. The residents were rallied to attend by Lancaster Stands Up, the local chapter of Pennsylvania Stands Up.
“Last night was the result of a months-long effort to organize Columbians to protect our land, water, and power,” said Lancaster Stands Up member and Columbia resident Rob Misciagna. “That vote would not have gone our way if we did not let our voices be heard and stand up to big tech.”
The move follows a secret agreement by Lancaster City administrators last year to approve two proposed data centers by falsely classifying them as “warehouses,” leading to an outpouring of dissent from residents.