Pennsylvania Executive Order 2026-05 — Protecting Pennsylvania Consumers from Data Center Impacts

Signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro on August 18, 2026. Directs Commonwealth agencies to require data center proposals seeking state permits to comply with the Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Requirements (announced Feb 3, 2026; standards released May 27, 2026): the Department of Environmental Protection reviews permit applications only with an executed consent agreement, data center projects are removed from the PA Permit Fast Track Program, developers must pay for grid upgrades and bring or buy new power supply, nondisclosure agreements with state agencies are barred, and the computer data center sales-tax exemption is tied to GRID compliance, with annual reporting from July 1, 2027. The order recites that DEP had received permit applications for 20 proposed facilities and that 14 locations held an active certificate of exemption under Article XXIX-D of the Tax Reform Code.