Pennsylvania governor bars state permit review of data centers until local zoning and new power are secured

Political Guyentist · September 22, 20261 min read

Josh Shapiro (Gov-D Pennsylvania) signed the order. It holds state permit review until a project clears local zoning and lines up new power. In August, Michigan Senate nominee Mike Rogers (R-MI) called for a one-year freeze on new data centers. Grid operator PJM covers 13 states. Starting in mid-2027, it plans to cut off new large loads that have not lined up their own power for tight days.

Where else it's bitingVineland, New Jersey issued stop-work orders in August on a Microsoft-linked campus.2 details

Vineland, New Jersey issued stop-work orders in August on a Microsoft-linked campus. Crews had installed equipment without local permits, and the generators had no state air permit.
New Mexico's land commissioner rejected the pipeline for Oracle and OpenAI's Project Jupiter twice this year, pushing it to 2027.

What we’re less sure of4 of 7 claims

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Grid operator PJM said it will cut off new large loads that haven't lined up their own capacity when the grid gets tight, starting mid-2027
Attributed to PJM; PJM's own CIFP framework (July 27, 2026) and FERC Docket ER26-3380-000 set the 50 MW threshold, BYONC eligibility and a June 1, 2027 start — but this is a forward commitment pending FERC approval.
Medium
Vineland, New Jersey issued stop-work orders in August on a Microsoft-linked campus over equipment installed without local permits and no state air permit for its generators
Specific local enforcement detail not carried by any separately named source in the SOURCES list; rests on the Washington Examiner filing alone.
Medium
New Mexico's land commissioner rejected the pipeline for Oracle and OpenAI's Project Jupiter twice this year, pushing it to 2027
Single-source detail traceable only to the Washington Examiner op-ed; no corroborating New Mexico filing in the source list.
Medium
Several data-center-linked companies have delayed IPOs amid the backlash
Attributed in substance to The New York Times (Sept. 21, 2026), with Renaissance Capital, Philadelphia Inquirer and ScanX documenting Holtec, SB Energy and Aggreko delays; The Decoder notes some postponements had unrelated causes.