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Karen Feridun
100 signatures reached
To: Governor Josh Shapiro, PA Legislators
Governor Shapiro, PA Legislators, Put the Brakes on Data Center Development in Pennsylvania!
"Why not a moratorium?" The question was posed to Governor Josh Shapiro who had recently issued an Executive Order to put his GRID initiative into effect rather than put the brakes on data center development. He responded, "Why not a moratorium? Um, I mean, look, people who call for moratoriums or pauses, they're basically saying, let's stop and figure this out. Well, we figured it out." That is clearly not true. Our coalitions submitted 40 questions about issues that the EO did not address. We could have submitted hundreds more. We never received a response, by the way. We're used to being ignored by our governor.
Meanwhile, the legislature has failed to enact a 3-year statewide moratorium bill introduced by Senator Katie Muth. They have chosen instead to pat themselves on the back for passing a handful of tepid, piecemeal bills that do little to nothing.
All of this is happening as Pennsylvanians are opposing data center development and generative AI in big numbers. Standing room only crowds are turning out at public meetings when data centers are on the agenda. Some meetings have been cancelled because the meeting rooms aren't big enough to hold everyone who turns out. Polling reflects the opposition. 74% of respondants in a Quinnipiac poll in July said they oppose having data centers in their communities. It is one of the rare issues that crosses partisan lines in Pennsylvania. Social media feeds are full of posts opposing data centers. A FB group I started in January now has more than 44,000 members. By every measure, Pennsylvanians are saying no.
Governor Shapiro and state legislators have tempered their enthusiasm for data centers in response to public pressure, but their motivations seem to be based more on politics than policy. Their newfound concern rings hollow when their "solutions" are rushed and inadqueate and not at all what the people want. Pennsylvanians are demanding a moratorium, at minimum, and have no intention of giving up.
Governor Shapiro, PA legislators, put the brakes on data center development.
Meanwhile, the legislature has failed to enact a 3-year statewide moratorium bill introduced by Senator Katie Muth. They have chosen instead to pat themselves on the back for passing a handful of tepid, piecemeal bills that do little to nothing.
All of this is happening as Pennsylvanians are opposing data center development and generative AI in big numbers. Standing room only crowds are turning out at public meetings when data centers are on the agenda. Some meetings have been cancelled because the meeting rooms aren't big enough to hold everyone who turns out. Polling reflects the opposition. 74% of respondants in a Quinnipiac poll in July said they oppose having data centers in their communities. It is one of the rare issues that crosses partisan lines in Pennsylvania. Social media feeds are full of posts opposing data centers. A FB group I started in January now has more than 44,000 members. By every measure, Pennsylvanians are saying no.
Governor Shapiro and state legislators have tempered their enthusiasm for data centers in response to public pressure, but their motivations seem to be based more on politics than policy. Their newfound concern rings hollow when their "solutions" are rushed and inadqueate and not at all what the people want. Pennsylvanians are demanding a moratorium, at minimum, and have no intention of giving up.
Governor Shapiro, PA legislators, put the brakes on data center development.
Why is this important?
Pennsylvanians were blindsided by the data center boom that came out of nowhere in early 2025. We were unaware of the negotiations with billionaires and data center developers going on behind closed doors. Apparently, elected officials and cabinet members involved in the negotiations figured that the Pennsylvanians they are in government to represent would just deal with whatever they were handed. They were wrong.
On Tuesday, October 6th, people from across Pennsylvania will rally in the Capitol Rotunda at 12:30 to say NO to data center development in Pennsylvania. We will launch our Fall campaign that day.
Over the course of the weeks that follow the rally, we will deliver letters from different constituencies expressing their opposition to data centers and generative AI. The reasons for their opposition are many - environmental and climate impacts, health impacts, rising energy prices, job losses, adverse impacts on our children, decreased property value, lost quality of life, increased surveillance of the public, and many more - but when we come together, we speak with one powerful voice that is saying NO!
This petition will be delivered to reflect our collective opposition!
Our first constituency letters are from health professionals, faith leaders, artists, and parents & guardians. We invite all Pennsylvanians to visit our rally webpage to read and sign the letters.
We're also offering lots of transportation options to get to the PA Capitol on October 6! Check them out while you're on our webpage and be sure to reserve your seats now, as space is limited!
On Tuesday, October 6th, people from across Pennsylvania will rally in the Capitol Rotunda at 12:30 to say NO to data center development in Pennsylvania. We will launch our Fall campaign that day.
Over the course of the weeks that follow the rally, we will deliver letters from different constituencies expressing their opposition to data centers and generative AI. The reasons for their opposition are many - environmental and climate impacts, health impacts, rising energy prices, job losses, adverse impacts on our children, decreased property value, lost quality of life, increased surveillance of the public, and many more - but when we come together, we speak with one powerful voice that is saying NO!
This petition will be delivered to reflect our collective opposition!
Our first constituency letters are from health professionals, faith leaders, artists, and parents & guardians. We invite all Pennsylvanians to visit our rally webpage to read and sign the letters.
We're also offering lots of transportation options to get to the PA Capitol on October 6! Check them out while you're on our webpage and be sure to reserve your seats now, as space is limited!
How it will be delivered
Still planning the delivery event, but it will likely be a combination of in person and electronic delivery as we are delivering it to newly-elected officials in November.