¶ Overview
Stacy Garrity could be untrustworthy on data center policies after she flip-flopped her position on data center development. Although Garrity pushed back on the notion she flip-flopped on data centers, she previously called for deregulation and expanding data center development. In 2025, she promoted deregulation and said rural areas in Pennsylvania were the “perfect places to put data centers.” She previously lauded Amazon’s $20 billion data center investment and said Pennsylvania could be “doing more” to encourage data center development. Garrity began shifting her tone on data centers in early 2026 started holding roundtables on data centers in mid-2026 after securing the Republican nomination for governor, claiming Pennsylvanians were left out of data center conversations until she started listening. In mid-2026, Garrity called for a “total data center pause” despite her previous support for data centers and provided minimal details on her proposals.
¶ Garrity Flip-Flopped On Data Centers After Previously Lauding Data Center Development And Calling For Deregulation
¶ Garrity Pushed Back On The Notion She Flip-Flopped Or “Evolved” On Data Centers, But She Previously Called For Deregulation And A “Rebirth Of Pennsylvania As A National AI And Tech Hub”
Garrity Pushed Back On The Notion She Flip-Flopped Or “Evolved” On Data Centers, But Her Earlier Interviews Focused On Deregulation And Expanding Data Center Development And Also Called For A “Rebirth Of Pennsylvania As A National AI And Tech Hub.” According to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, "Garrity has pushed back on the notion that she’s ever changed her tune when it comes to data centers. ‘I know there was some headline and you guys want to infer that my position has ‘evolved,’ but it hasn’t,’ Garrity told reporters earlier this month. ‘I’ve always said you can’t jam these things down the throats of communities. I’ve said that from day one.’ But in earlier interviews, Garrity focused on deregulating and expanding development when asked about the subject. Last summer, Garrity told Larry Richert on KDKA’s Big K Morning Show that Pennsylvania was ‘playing around the fringes’ compared to other states on data centers, noting that Ohio had more than twice as many. ‘We need to deregulate,’ she said. ‘Pennsylvania is not an easy state to do business in and our neighbors are kind of eating our lunch.’ In July, she told Breitbart that Pennsylvania needed to increase energy production to fuel ‘a rebirth of Pennsylvania as a national AI and tech hub.’" [Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 6/29/26]
¶ In 2025, Garrity Called To Deregulate Data Centers And Said Rural Areas In Pennsylvania Were “Perfect Places To Put Data Centers”
Summer 2025: Garrity Called To Deregulate Data Centers And Advocated For Increased Energy Production To Fuel “A Rebirth Of Pennsylvania As A National AI And Tech Hub.” According to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, "But in earlier interviews, Garrity focused on deregulating and expanding development when asked about the subject. Last summer, Garrity told Larry Richert on KDKA’s Big K Morning Show that Pennsylvania was ‘playing around the fringes’ compared to other states on data centers, noting that Ohio had more than twice as many. ‘We need to deregulate,’ she said. ‘Pennsylvania is not an easy state to do business in and our neighbors are kind of eating our lunch.’ In July, she told Breitbart that Pennsylvania needed to increase energy production to fuel ‘a rebirth of Pennsylvania as a national AI and tech hub.’" [Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 6/29/26]
September 2025: Garrity Said Rural Areas In Pennsylvania Were “Perfect Places To Put Data Centers,” Claiming It Would Bring Billions Of Dollars At A Time When The State Was Struggling Financially. According to Stacy Garrity on the Dom Giordano Program, “That's right. You know, in very rural Pennsylvania, you know, you have areas that are in the middle of nowhere. What perfect places to put data centers. And you know what? Rural Pennsylvania largely would welcome it because of its jobs. It's billions of dollars in economic opportunity for our communities that we desperately need. And, you know, we're out of money in two years. And that's just the reality. That's not, you know, Stacy Garrity talking that the independent fiscal office and, you know, legislators on both sides of the aisle, they want to spend every single dollar of your hard earned taxpayer dollars. And I say every one of those dollars is precious and we need to spend them wisely." [Stacy Garrity – Dom Giordano Program, 9/18/25] (AUDIO)
¶ Garrity Previously Lauded Amazon’s $20 Billion Investment And Said Pennsylvania Could Be “Doing More” To Encourage Data Center Development
Garrity Was Initially Enthusiastic About Data Center Development, Previously Lauding Amazon’s $20 Billion Data Center Investment And Saying Pennsylvania Could Be “Doing More” To Encourage Data Center Development. According to Spotlight PA, "Both Shapiro and Garrity were initially enthusiastic about data centers and the private investment they attract, but have seemingly tempered those positions as communities raise concerns about their economic and environmental impacts. [...] As state treasurer, Garrity is not involved in attracting big tech investors into the state. But her early comments on AI were largely positive. She lauded Amazon’s $20 billion investment when it was announced. The following August, she said that Pennsylvania could be ‘doing more’ to encourage data center development. ‘We have 88 data centers. Ohio is kicking our butt. They have over 192. And so, you know, we could just be doing so much more in that space,’ Garrity said on a radio show." [Spotlight PA, 7/7/26]
¶ Garrity Proposed Growing Artificial Intelligence And Data Centers Through Natural Gas Stores And Establishing A Pennsylvania Office Of Innovation To Identify Areas For Artificial Intelligence To Benefit State Agencies
January 2026: Garrity Proposed Growing Artificial Intelligence And Data Centers Through Natural Gas Stores. According to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, “Despite public skepticism over the deployment of AI and the resource-hungry data centers that power it, Garrity enthusiastically shared her vision for growing its development by tapping into the state’s natural gas stores. ‘We will utilize the God-given resources under our feet to fuel the technological revolution of the 21st century. Pennsylvania can power the world, but only if the Shapiro administration stops its moratorium,’ said Garrity. Former Gov. Tom Wolf signed a moratorium on new drilling leases for oil and gas in state parks in forests prior to Shapiro taking office. Natural gas prices are currently sinking to new lows and eating into profit margins.” [Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 1/12/26]
- Garrity Noted There Were Several Rural Areas To Implement Data Centers, Which Grassroots Groups Opposed. According to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, “Noting that nearly two-thirds of the state’s 67 counties are rural, she said there were ‘a lot of areas where you can put data centers’ in welcoming communities. Grassroots groups have popped up across the state opposing such efforts.” [Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 1/12/26]
January 2026: Garrity Proposed Establishing A Pennsylvania Office Of Innovation To Identify Areas For Artificial Intelligence To Benefit State Agencies. According to Local 21 News, “Garrity said during her speech that she wants to establish a Pennsylvania Office of Innovation that would report directly to her. She said this office would identify areas where technology and artificial intelligence (AI) would benefit state agencies.” [Local 21 News, 1/12/26]
¶ Garrity Began Shifting Her Tone On Data Centers In Early 2026 And Started Holding Roundtables Across Pennsylvania On Data Center Proposals
Garrity Began Shifting Her Tone On Data Centers In Early 2026, When She Said Communities Would Welcome Data Centers But “You Can’t Just Jam It Down Their Throats,” And Started Holding Roundtables Across Pennsylvania On Data Center Proposals. According to Spotlight PA, "But her tone began to shift in early 2026. In January, Garrity told reporters that there are a lot of areas in the state where communities would welcome data centers, but ‘you have to engage with them.’ ‘You have to talk to them. You can’t just jam it down their throats,’ Garrity said. Then in June, Garrity began hosting data center listening sessions across Pennsylvania, where she has criticized Shapiro for ‘doing nothing to address the concerns that were raised by communities about data center development’ and letting such developers benefit from ‘sweetheart tax deals.’ Garrity has told reporters she supports more restrictions on the industry, criticizing Shapiro’s GRID proposal for being voluntary, but her campaign did not answer Spotlight PA’s questions about specifics. She also proposed locating data centers in brownfields or industrial sites, away from residential communities. ‘I’m not opposed to data centers, but we have to do them the right way,’ Garrity said at a listening session in Montgomery County." [Spotlight PA, 7/7/26]
June 2026: Garrity Promoted Her Campaign Stops And Discussions Over Data Center Development, Suggesting Pennsylvanians Were “Being Left Out Of The Conversation” Until She Began Listening To Pennsylvanians' Frustrations. According to Stacy Garrity’s Facebook, "I called for a pause on data center development after listening to the concerns and frustrations of Pennsylvanians. They were being left out of the conversation. William Penn founded Pennsylvania on the belief that power rests with the people. That principle helped build one of the most prosperous and free places in the world. Pennsylvania's future should be shaped by the people who live, work, and raise families here, not by Harrisburg politicians too focused on themselves to listen. Not by special interests. And not by corporations headquartered on the other side of the country. Our future is too important to get wrong. The people who will live with the consequences should have the final say, just as William Penn envisioned. That's the Pennsylvania worth fighting for."
[Facebook, Stacy Garrity For Pennsylvania, 6/9/26]
¶ In Mid-2026, Garrity Called For A Pause On Data Center Development But Provided Minimal Details On Her Proposal
¶ Garrity Called For A Pause On Data Center Development Despite Previously Supporting Data Centers
May 2026: Garrity Called For A Pause On Data Center Development After Communities Raised Concerns About Water Usage, Energy Demand, And Effects On Farmland. According to WHP, "Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity said she is calling for a pause on data center development in the commonwealth. The Republican treasurer shared a petition Thursday, saying she will support a pause until 'families, taxpayers, consumers and ratepayers are protected.' 'Josh Shapiro rolled out the red carpet for massive data center projects,' Garrity said in a Facebook post. 'Now that communities are raising concerns about water usage, energy demands, noise, zoning, infrastructure, and effects on farm land, he's scrambling to do damage control.' Data centers have become a hot-button issue in Pennsylvania, with many community members expressing concerns about environmental impacts, zoning, infrastructure and taxes.” [WHP, 5/28/26]
June 2026: Garrity Called For A “Total Data Center Pause” Even Though She Previously Supported Data Centers. According to E&E News, "The Republican challenger to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wants to turn data centers into a campaign wedge against the Democratic incumbent. Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the GOP nominee for governor, is calling for a ‘total data center pause.’ While Garrity previously supported the sector, she is now trying to draw a contrast with Shapiro — himself an early data center cheerleader who’s gradually grown more critical as the public sours on their impacts. After Shapiro last week released a framework for regulating new data centers, Garrity called the governor’s proposals ‘damage control’ following his past efforts to attract data centers to the commonwealth. ‘Josh Shapiro spent the last year rolling out the red carpet for massive data center development in Pennsylvania,’ Garrity said in a video posted last week. ‘But now, after communities across our commonwealth have started raising serious concerns, he wants you to believe he is suddenly the one putting up guard rails.’" [E&E News, 6/2/26]
June 2026: Garrity Noted She Supported A Pause, Not A Moratorium, For Data Center Development And Said Data Centers Should Be Built On Former Industrial Or Brownfield Sites And That Developers Should Provide Their Own Power And Water Resources. According to the Times Observer, "Garrity said she supports a temporary pause on new data center projects while state and local governments develop policies addressing concerns about energy use, water resources and zoning. ‘I’m for a pause, not a moratorium,’ Garrity said. ‘Having clean air, clean water and also making sure you don’t hurt rate payers. The two aren’t mutually exclusive.’ She said data centers should be located on former industrial or brownfield sites and that developers should be responsible for providing their own power and water resources." [Times Observer, 6/9/26]
- Garrity Did Not Clarify How Long She Wanted The Pause To Last On New, Non-Contracted Data Center Development. According to WHP, "Garrity did not say how long she wants the pause on new, non-contracted data center developments to last, but urged municipalities to work on zoning and data center ordinances." [WHP, 6/8/26]
¶ Garrity Provided Minimal Details On Her Data Center Development Pause And It Was Unclear If She Could Implement The Pause Without Legislative Approval
June 2026: Garrity Called For A Data Center Pause Until She Could Develop Local Guidelines To Protect Communities From Harmful Impacts, But Garrity Provided Minimal Details And It Was Unclear If She Could Implement A Pause Without Legislative Approval. According to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, "With the governor’s race picking up, Shapiro and Garrity have both laid out, at least in part, a vision for what data center development should look like in Pennsylvania. Garrity has said, if she wins office, she plans to call for a pause on new data center development until she can work with local officials to develop clear guidelines that will protect communities from potentially harmful impacts. Data centers can require hundreds of thousands of gallons of water daily to operate. They can also put large strains on local power grids and boost costs for other utility customers. Local officials have also raised concerns about the strain on local resources, from fire departments to police retraining to handle issues in the highly specialized centers. And they can cause noise pollution that has led residential neighbors to sue several data centers across the country. Garrity, however, has provided few details. And it’s unclear if she could institute the pause without legislative approval, though she’s said she believes it would be within her power. ‘We pause for as long as we need the pause,’ she told reporters. ‘Before we do anything new, we really need to get clarification, we really need to make sure that townships have the opportunity to update their zoning.’ She’s also called for data center development to be restricted to brownfield and industrial sites. ‘We have a ton of those sites,’ she said. ‘It should not be residential areas, because what I hear is, ‘Not in my backyard.’’" [Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 6/29/26]