Josh Shapiro stories

Aug 23, 2026

Data center backlash emerges as major political issue in US midterms

Politicians including Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro are now criticizing data center projects they previously championed, with the issue becoming prominent in midterm elections.

Aug 23, 20264 sources

Aug 18, 2026

Pennsylvania governor orders strict new restrictions on data centers

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro ordered strict new guardrails on data centers in the state, joining a rush of states pushing back against soaring corporate investment fueled by AI development. Shapiro said some data center developers have been 'scaring' and 'bullying' communities.

Aug 18, 20262 sources

Top claims

▪Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated on August 23, 2026, that the artificial intelligence industry deserved its public backlash because developers built facilities too quickly without first gaining local community support
▪Governor Greg Abbott introduced new standards for Texas data centers, instructing the state's utility commission and electrical grid operator to protect residents from infrastructure costs, suggesting a ban on rural developments, and halting approximately 1,800 projects for audits
▪Republican leaders in Washington express concern that blocking data center construction could slow the US economy and reduce competitiveness against China

Topics

AI Data Center Gold Rush US midterm elections Energy infrastructure Texas AI compute & environmental impact AI Regulation Compute, chips & AI infrastructure State-level AI laws