PA Environment Digest Blog: Governor’s Office To Brief DEP Citizens Advisory Council On Governor’s Data Center Executive Order Sept. 1

Sam Robinson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Gov. Shapiro, will brief DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council September 1 on the Governor’s new Data Center Executive Order and related DEP responsibilities.

On August 19, Gov. Shapiro signed Executive Order 2026-05 laying out standards for data center developers to meet regarding energy affordability, community engagement, workforce and economic development, transparency and environmental protection. Read more here.

Under the Order, developers must sign a legally binding consent order with DEP locking them into the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Principles and setting penalties if they fail to comply. [Model Consent Order]

As part of the initiative, DEP launched a new Data Center Permit Tracker Map webpage to provide information on pending DEP permits related to data center projects.

The Shapiro Administration also created a new webpage for Pennsylvanians to provide the state with information about new data center proposals, including their location, whether the local community and local leaders support the proposal, and whether the proposal meets Gov. Shapiro’s Data Center Executive Order.

Also on the agenda--

-- Illegal Dumping/Littering: Presentation by Sharron Reiter, Keep PA Beautiful, on illegal dumping, litter research and updates to the 2021 Litter Action Plan

-- Nutrient/Sediment Reduction: Presentation by Allyson Gibson, John Cox, from Lancaster Clean Water Partners on water quality restoration efforts

-- Act 54 Report on Damage Caused By Longwall Coal Mining: Extending Comment Period To Sept. 8

Public Comments

Individuals interested in providing public comment during the meeting must sign up 24-hours in advance of the meeting by contacting Ian Irvin, Executive Director, by sending email to: iirvin@pa.gov.

Join The Meeting

The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg starting at 12:30 p.m.

Click Here to join the meeting through Microsoft Teams or by telephone: +1 267-332-8737 Conference ID #: 541 794 634#

Visit the DEP Citizens Advisory Council webpage for more information and available handouts. Questions should be directed to Ian Irvin, Executive Director, by sending email to: iirvin@pa.gov or call 717-579-0329.

Resource Links:

-- 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]

-- Gov. Shapiro Releases Full Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development Standards (GRID) For A.I. Data Centers; New Local Government Data Center Planning Toolkit [PaEN]

-- Governor’s Office Expected To Announce Further Steps To Regulate A.I. Data Centers ‘Shortly;’ 100 Data Center Proposals Being Discussed in PA, 55 Have Some Interaction With DEP [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry, Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - August 22 [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Permit For Montour CT Natural Gas Power Plant Expansion In Montour County To Feed Data Centers [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For Expand Operating LLC Double, 16-Inch Shale Gas Water Pipelines In Fox Twp., Sullivan County [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 35 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In July; 223 In 2026 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 70 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In August 22 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

-- DEP Sets Sept. 15 Hearing On Blythe Recycling & Demolition [BRADS] Landfill Permit Modification Related To Leachate Hauling At Its Facility In Schuylkill County [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For A 250 MW Solar Energy Facility In Clearfield County [PaEN]