Pennsylvania Governor Implements Strict Guardrails for AI Data Centers to Protect Homeowners from Rising Energy Costs
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has signed an executive order establishing what he terms the 'nation’s strictest guardrails on AI data centers.' This move comes amidst rumors of over 100 data center proposals in Pennsylvania and aims to prevent homeowners from bearing the brunt of rising energy costs associated with these facilities. The order, known as the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development Standards (GRID Standards), mandates that data center developers must secure their own power supply and cover the electricity costs for development. A significant portion of this power must originate from clean energy sources, including solar, advanced nuclear, and battery storage. Furthermore, the order grants local communities increased authority, stating that state approval for a project will not be granted without local community endorsement. It also stipulates that in times of high energy demand, data centers will be the first to experience power cuts, prioritizing residential customers. Develope... 
