A Quinnipiac poll in February found 68% said they would oppose A.I. data centers.
The poll also found 76% of voters say they are following news about A.I. data centers closely.
Only about 24% of voters approve of the way Gov. Shapiro is handling A.I. Data centers in Pennsylvania, while 34% disapprove and 42% did not offer any opinion.
Alex Beauchamp, Northern Regional Director for Food & Water Watch, issued the following statement in response to the results--
“AI data centers only benefit billionaires, not the people who have to live with the behemoth facilities. It’s no surprise Pennsylvanians want nothing to do with this destructive industry.
“Time and time again, Governor Shapiro has proven willing to give away water, energy, land — and even tax breaks — to corporate developers who don't care about Pennsylvanians.
“The budget was a chance for him to rewrite the record — he failed, leaving Pennsylvanians out to dry, again.
“This poll provides even more evidence that this approach will not fly with people of all political persuasions. Pennsylvanians want better — we need a statewide data center moratorium, to develop strong, commonsense regulations that actually protect communities.”
Click Here for the poll results.
Resource Links:
-- Budget First Look: At Best A Cost To Carry Environmental Budget, Supports Oil & Gas Program Operations, Several Data Center Provisions But Not A Moratorium Or Pause [PaEN]
-- A.I. Data Center Legislative Scorecard: Pennsylvania Failed To Finalize Meaningful Legislation On Energy Affordability, To Increase Electric Generation And Give Communities The Tools They Need To Cope With A.I. Proposals [PaEN]
-- Environmental/Energy Groups: Final State Budget Fails To Address Critical A.I. Data Center Issues And Skyrocketing Energy Bills [PaEN]
-- PA Environmental Council: New State Budget Leaves A.I. Data Centers Unresolved, Big Win For Advanced Transmission Line Tech, Modest Progress On Other Energy Issues [PaEN]
-- More Reactions: Final State Budget Fails To Take On Growing Concerns About Energy Affordability And Keeping The Lights On [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- PJM Data Center-Driven Power Auction Prices Limited By $325/MW-Day Cap; Without Cap Would Have Been 70% Higher In PA, Most Areas; Missed Reliability Target By 6,831 MW [PaEN]
-- Gov. Shapiro's Legal Action To Impose Price Cap On PJM Interconnection Generation Capacity Auctions Results In Saving Consumers $13.3 Billion In Latest Power Auction [PaEN]
-- PJM Issues Hot Weather Alert For July 14 - 17; PJM Confirmed It Reached New All-Time Peak Load Demand 2,595 MW Over Previous Record [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnection Issues Maximum Generation Alert For July 15; Requested & Received DOE Order To Put Data Centers On Backup Generators, Exceed Environmental Standards If Needed From July 15 To 21 [PaEN]
-- PJM Extends Maximum Generation Alert To July 16; Hot Weather Alert To Continue Thru At Least July 17 [PaEN]
-- PJM Board Approves Changes To Transmission Line Projects, Substations To Support Data Center Development [PaEN]
-- Quinnipiac University Poll Finds 74% Of PA Voters Would Oppose Building An A.I. Data Center In Their Community; 76% Are Following Data Center News Closely [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Reuters: PJM Power Grid Auction Hits Prices Limit, Falls Short Of Reliability Goal
-- Utility Dive: PJM Generation Capacity Auction Prices Hit Price Cap, Reserve Shortfall Grows
-- PA Capital-Star: PJM Interconnection Electricity Price Hits Cap Again In Latest Auction
-- New York Times: A.I. Data Centers Add Billions In Power Costs In PJM Region
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: PA State Budget Saves $500 Million Data Center Sales Tax Exemption Amid Growing Opposition To A.I. Boom
-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: RISE PA Decarbonization Grants Expected To Reduce Industrial Air Pollution In Pennsylvania
-- The Allegheny Front: Lawmaker Introduces Bill To Authorize Balcony Solar To Offset Electricity Bills
[Posted: July 17, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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