Data centers may power the internet, but they're also heating up PA politics. ❤️🔥 Worries about energy costs, water use, and property values are still hot. Now, almost two-thirds of Pennsylvanians now view them as a crisis or a problem. 🚫🤖
With the governor’s race underway, it’s a great time to take a peek at each candidate’s hot take. Let’s look at what Shapiro and Garrity have up their sleeves. 👀
Here’s Five Fast Facts on how PA’s governor candidates feel about data centers:
- 📊 Data Dump - PA's governor's race isn't so much about if the state should have data centers. It’s more about each candidate's plans to manage them. Both Shapiro and Garrity support continued development, but each says the industry needs to protect communities and address concerns about energy and water use.
- 🙆 High Times - Both candidates agree data centers should meet higher standards, they just disagree on how to get there. Shapiro would use tax incentives to encourage developers to adopt stronger environmental and community practices. Garrity argues those protections shouldn't be optional and should be required for every project.
- 🤑 Tax Talk - The candidates also disagree over whether PA should keep offering tax breaks to attract data centers. Garrity wants to repeal the state's broad sales tax exemption for data center equipment. Shapiro would keep incentives available, but only for projects that meet his proposed standards.
- ⏸️ Pressing Pause - Another issue: whether PA should pause new data center projects. Garrity supports a limited pause while municipalities prepare for future development but opposes a long-term statewide moratorium. Shapiro hasn’t taken a public position on the issue.
- 🏄 Tides Turning - The biggest takeaway over the data center drama might be how much the convo has changed lately. Not long ago, the focus was on attracting data centers to PA. Today, it's just as much about how they're regulated, where they're built, and how communities are affected.
🔥Bottom line: Before you head to the polls, if data centers are a big deal in your book, know where your top pick stands! Still got Zoomers at home? Many are moving out of the basement, but they’re not quite on their feet. Check out this article where we cover some recent stats.
What’s your take on data centers?
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