Pennsylvania Governor Orders Data Centers Use Clean Energy

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro just took a major step toward protecting residents and boosting clean energy at the same time.

Last week, he issued an executive order requiring the 50 data centers planned across Pennsylvania to generate their own power and buy increasing amounts from renewable sources. Even better, these massive energy consumers will have to pay for their own transmission upgrades instead of passing those costs to everyday Pennsylvanians.

The timing couldn't be more critical. Electric rates in Pennsylvania jumped 12 percent in the last year as utilities prepared for the massive new demand from data centers. Residents were staring down even higher bills to subsidize infrastructure for tech companies.

Now those costs will stay where they belong. The order came after growing community pushback against data center plans that would drain resources without giving much back.

But this victory is part of a bigger clean energy story unfolding in Pennsylvania. The state was once a renewable energy pioneer before the fracking boom took hold. Now advocacy groups like PennFuture are pushing lawmakers to remember that legacy.

Their new report shows how far Pennsylvania has fallen behind. The state requires just 18 percent renewable energy from utilities. Neighboring New Jersey required 36 percent last year and aims for 50 percent by 2030.

The solution isn't complicated. Community solar programs would let renters and others without suitable roofs tap into local solar arrays. Warehouses and distribution centers have countless rooftops perfect for panels. Former coal mine sites and shuttered coal plants could become solar fields, helping coal communities transition to new opportunities.

The Ripple Effect

Some progress is already happening in the Pennsylvania House, which has a slim Democratic majority. Lawmakers there have passed bills enabling community solar, warehouse solar, and expanded energy efficiency programs.

The roadblock sits in the Republican controlled state Senate. David Hess, former secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection, says Senate Republicans are stuck using talking points from the natural gas industry.

That over reliance on gas creates real problems. About 60 percent of Pennsylvania's electricity comes from natural gas, which ties prices to unpredictable international markets and LNG exports. Renewables are now cheaper than gas and far more stable.

The data center order proves what's possible when leaders prioritize people and the planet together. Pennsylvania can shake its fossil fuel dependence, support communities left behind by coal's decline, and lead the nation in clean energy innovation.

The pieces are in place, and momentum is building for Pennsylvania's clean energy comeback.