In June 2025, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro celebrated the largest private-sector investment in his state’s history: He announced that Amazon would be investing $20 billion into artificial-intelligence infrastructure in the Keystone State. His administration promised to help secure additional sites, build the necessary infrastructure, and move permits quickly.
By August 2026, Shapiro was singing a different tune. Data-center developers would have to bring or pay for their own power, meet new environmental and transparency standards, negotiate community-benefits agreements, and satisfy state officials before receiving incentives or expedited permitting. He removed data centers from Pennsylvania’s fast-track permitting program and declared that his state would not be “bullied” by developers.
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