Pennsylvania removes data centers from fast track

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s Executive Order 2026-05 removes data-center projects from the state’s fast-track permit program and requires local approval plus a legally binding GRID commitment before normal state permit review. The order says more than 100 projects appear in public databases, 58 have engaged with the Department of Environmental Protection, and only five have received all permits for a first phase; developers must also cover new power infrastructure rather than shift it to households and businesses. Data-center operators planning Pennsylvania capacity should now budget for community approval and transparent energy and water reporting, not just a site and a grid interconnect; ONEOK’s AI-power contract shows how quickly compute demand is becoming an infrastructure negotiation.