Data Centers 101

Cloud computing, AI, streaming, mobile banking — nearly everything people do online runs through a data center somewhere. As demand for those services keeps growing, so does the need for the additional physical infrastructure to support them and the property to build them on.

Not a New Idea

Data centers aren't new. One of the earliest known computers was built at the University of Pennsylvania back in the mid-1940s. What's changed is the scale and pace: today's demand for AI and cloud computing means more facilities, built faster, in more places.

Pennsylvania's New Playbook

In August, Governor Shapiro signed an executive order requiring all data centers in the Commonwealth to comply with the Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Standards. The standards, released earlier this year by the Shapiro administration, provide guidance on energy affordability, community engagement, workforce development, and environmental protection.

However, the GRID Standards don't override local rules: meeting the state's voluntary benchmarks isn't a free pass around a municipality's own, potentially stricter, ordinance.

Where the Real Decisions Get Made

Despite the activity in Harrisburg, most decision-making happens locally, in the municipalities and townships rewriting zoning ordinances that were never written with data centers in mind.

The Community’s Role

A proposed data center can raise legitimate community concerns about noise, water use, traffic, and electricity. An updated zoning code can address these concerns and put data center developers on notice about what is expected of them.

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