Boo! Josh Shapiro restricts new data center construction in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has fallen into a progressive trap: He’s heeding calls to place onerous restrictions on new data center construction that will make it all but impossible to build more.

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania — Last June, Gov. Josh Shapiro stood in Berwick and described a new economic horizon for Pennsylvania: Amazon’s plan to invest at least $20 billion in cloud-computing and artificial-intelligence campuses across the Commonwealth. “Pennsylvania is competing again — and I’m proud to announce that,

"We've seen too many developers who are trying to bulldoze our community," Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro told "CBS Mornings."

Pennsylvania has tightened AI data center rules as states nationwide push back over energy, water and community concerns.

The far-reaching order does not include a moratorium on data center development. However, it requires local approval to receive state permits, which in effect may block many from moving forward.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced significant restrictions on data center projects, signing an executive order to stop “predatory” backers.

Pennsylvania Becomes Latest State to Restrict Data-Center Construction  WSJ

Gov. Josh Shapiro announces new limits on data centers in Pennsylvania  CNN

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said that some data center developers have been "scaring" and "bullying" communities. Tom Brenner/Bloomberg via Getty Images Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced a crackdown on data centers. Shapiro said that incomplete and lackluster proposals are overwhelming local officials. He sa