Pennsylvania tightens data-center rules with local approvals and resource limits

Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order to sharply curb data-center development in Pennsylvania by requiring local approvals, imposing stringent environmental, land-use, and energy requirements (including bringing their own power and a 10% clean-energy target), and ending the data-center “fast-track” program, signaling tougher scrutiny for roughly 100 proposed projects and reflecting growing concerns over energy and water usage.