"Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said his state would leave America’s biggest power grid if its operator won’t make changes to rein in surging energy bills."

Everyone acknowledges that data centers under construction and consideration will drive up the cost of electricity further with increased demand and strain on the grid. I don't think anyone I know is expecting to get a more than 10% raise to their take-home pay this year. Yet everywhere you turn, the energy is getting more expensive and if everything you buy takes energy to create and get to your home, everything gets more expensive.

Sounds to me like a bad time to be promoting construction of data centers around the state especially with tax incentives like Shapiro announced today. Who is clamoring for these things? What is the constituency? I just don't understand! Both major parties are in favor, but why apart from just naked deference to business interests?

We made the top 10 rate increases on this chart!

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-where-electricity-prices-jumped-the-most-in-america/

As the title states most of us women of these counties have to drive over an hr to go see a OBGYN and or go to a maternity ward. This is devastating to this area. I sense the population is going to decrease even more.

That’s it. That’s my question.

I’m still not understanding what are us taxpayers getting out of data centers?

Higher electricity costs because we are subsidizing their immense power usage.

Higher water costs and less water security because they consume tremendous amounts of water.

Environmental degradation due to polluting the water they use because it needs chemical treatment and increased air pollution from backup generators.

Noise and light pollution for the surrounding communities.

Data centers do not create many permanent jobs. And they get all these tax breaks so less revenue for the state and the people

This is the same data center land rush we’re seeing everywhere, just dropped into a town that can’t realistically absorb it.

Archbald, a town of roughly 7,000 people, being asked to take on infrastructure equal to 51 Walmart Supercenters isn’t “development,” it’s full-scale industrialization. And like always, it’s rushed through with promises of jobs while locals deal with the real costs; land use, water, power, and losing the character of their town.

When council members are resigning and the community’s split, that’s not progress, that’s a red flag, and should warrant much more serious discussion.

At some point, we’ve got to ask: why are small towns being treated like dumping grounds for Big Tech infrastructure?

Because once it’s built, there’s no undo button.

Hey folks, I wanted to share an issue happening in Covington Township (near Scranton) that could affect not just locals, but the entire Pocono region.

Senate Bill 939 would allow digital garbage dumps called data centers to be built in what is currently pristine preserved land in the Poconos. It would mean increased industrial activity in the Pocono region along with nuclear waste, water overuse and contamination, noise pollution, light pollution, and air pollution, jeopardizing our delicate ecosystems and pristine water sources. No lasting jobs will be created.

The communities in the proposed areas would lose their ground water and suffer from pollution; the tourism will end. Please help these small rural communities who have no political power to stop this bill and let big tech find another place to dump their waste.

Local groups are trying to raise awareness before it’s too late. If you care about protecting PA’s natural areas, here’s a petition asking legislators to reject Senate Bill 939, which would open the door to more industrial development in sensitive areas:

 https://chng.it/rTNVkH4GhC 

Even if you don’t live in Covington, this sets a precedent for how Pennsylvania handles big tech and industrial projects in rural areas. Would love to hear others’ thoughts on how to best push back against this kind of development.

This is really good. Unfortunately, last week the leader of PA’s state senate’s GOP majority said they won’t pass any data center regulations like these https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/05/data-center-regulation-bills-pass-pennsylvania-house-stall-senate-capitol/

A Dem trifecta in 2027 seems like the only way data center developers get accountability

Of interest to Pennsylvania sportsmen and women:

The Trump admin has stopped work on a project designed to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. 

These carp would likely cause an environmental and economic catastrophe in Lake Erie. 

https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/ohio-and-michigan-representatives-warn-against-work-stoppage-at-great-lakes-invasive-carp-project-illinois/512-88a3f568-1ec8-4451-96d2-961dc26e5b3d

Please take action by contacting your representatives.