Pennsylvanians use town hall meeting to rail against data center boom

Pennsylvania residents held a town hall meeting expressing intense opposition to rapid data center development in the state , with more than 20 speakers criticizing the industry for rising electricity prices, heavy water use, noise pollution, and rural industrialization . Governor Josh Shapiro, who supports data center development with proposed safeguards, was a frequent target of criticism , while state lawmakers proposed a three-year moratorium on new data center development to allow for planning and study .

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-05-15