West Chester, Pa (August 18, 2026) – State Senator Carolyn Comitta, Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, today issued the following statement regarding Governor Shapiro’s Executive Order on Data Center Standards:
“I appreciate Governor Shapiro moving forward with strong rules and requirements on data centers – rules and requirements that he described as the most ‘stringent’ in the entire nation.
I also appreciate the Governor listening to Pennsylvanians, strengthening his original GRID proposal, and moving forward with implementing these guardrails, especially when it comes to respecting local control and our environmental rights.
Though it would be preferable for these measures to move through the legislature, as the Governor mentioned, Senate Republican leaders refused to act on data center regulation.
Recent polling shows that 74 percent of Pennsylvanians oppose the development of a data center in their community.
Today’s Executive Order is an important first step, one that prioritizes local governments in protecting our communities and constituents. I continue to support a moratorium on data center development in the Commonwealth to give municipalities an opportunity to develop equally strong and effective local policies and procedures.”
###