HARRISBURG, PA – In a continuing effort to prioritize local voices, the Shapiro Administration has officially launched a new online portal for Pennsylvanians to engage directly with the Commonwealth regarding data center development. Effective August 21, 2026, residents can visit pa.gov/YourVoiceOnDataCenters to share their input and report on new proposals.
The website launch is a direct follow-up to Governor Josh Shapiro signing Executive Order 2026-05 earlier in the week. This order was drafted in response to a surge in outreach from communities across Pennsylvania expressing concerns over the rapid increase in data center proposals.
“This is how good government is supposed to work,” said Governor Shapiro. “Constituents express concerns on an issue, and their elected leaders listen, hear them out, and take action accordingly. That’s what we’ve done today.”
The new portal allows Pennsylvanians to provide vital information about data center proposals in their areas, including:
- The proposed location of the facility.
- Whether local leaders and the community support the project.
- Whether the proposal adheres to the Governor’s strict Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Requirements, such as bringing their own power, committing to community transparency, and upholding high environmental standards.
Executive Order 2026-05 established these rigorous standards to address energy affordability, community engagement, and environmental protection. Under the order, developers who fail to meet these requirements or fail to secure local approval will not receive Commonwealth support.
Furthermore, the Governor has immediately removed all data center projects from the PA Permit Fast Track Program, banned non-disclosure agreements for proposed projects, and recently launched a new data center map to increase transparency.
Residents are encouraged to keep the conversation going and share their input by visiting pa.gov/YourVoiceOnDataCenters.
