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Governor Josh Shapiro plans to block such projects in the state unless they meet new limits on electricity and water usage, a reversal of past policies, and gain local approval.

Signs in Archbald, Pennsylvania. (Heather Ainsworth/For The Washington Post)

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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) will announce new stringent regulations on data centers on Tuesday, reversing some of his past policies while embracing more rigorous reviews of the projects that have angered residents throughout the state.

Shapiro, a Democrat up for reelection this year, plans to sign an executive order blocking any new data center project in Pennsylvania unless it meets new guidelines that limit electricity and water use. The order also requires data center developers to receive approval from local authorities before the state will consider authorizing projects.

Shapiro’s order stops short of a blanket moratorium on data center development. But administration officials said the new policies are structured so that it will be exceptionally difficult for most data center developers to meet the new requirements.

The new policy represents a shift for Shapiro, who has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2028 and has been trying to navigate hardening public opposition to data centers nationwide.

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