Key developments
Pennsylvania releases GRID standards for data centers
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro released the full Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Standards on May 28, creating a certification process for data centers seeking Commonwealth support. Applicants must submit energy, footprint, workforce, and community-outreach plans, show they will pay the full cost of incremental power infrastructure rather than shifting it to ratepayers, and meet thresholds including $250 million in new investment, 200 prevailing-wage construction jobs, and 50 permanent jobs. The administration also plans a local-government toolkit, wants GRID tied to the PA Permit Fast Track Program, and is seeking legislation to codify the standards and link tax benefits to certification.
Why it matters
It would make state support for Pennsylvania data centers contingent on cost, labor, and environmental requirements.
Sources & driving stories
PA.GOV
pa.gov coverageWHYY
WHYY coverageOhio pauses new data center tax exemptions
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ordered the Ohio Tax Credit Authority to pause consideration of new data center sales-tax exemption requests while the legislature’s Joint Data Center Study Committee reviews the sector. The move follows reporting that Ohio’s 2025 exemption cost roughly $1.6 billion, far above the state’s earlier $136 million estimate, and comes as the committee is set to consider one existing request on Monday. DeWine said the pause is temporary and not a ban.
Why it matters
Ohio is one of the biggest data-center incentive markets, so the pause could delay projects and trigger broader subsidy changes.
Sources & driving stories
SIGNAL AKRON
Signal Akron coverageFOX 8 · Jesse Bethea
Fox 8 coverageYAHOO FINANCE · Marc Levy
Yahoo Finance coverageNew Jersey unveils statewide data center guardrails
New Jersey Gov. Sherrill announced a statewide plan to put guardrails around data-center growth, focusing on energy demand, water use, and community impacts. The proposal would require public reporting on energy and water use, set standards for community benefits agreements, and support municipalities negotiating with developers, while requiring projects to bring clean-energy and grid investments rather than shifting costs to ratepayers. The administration cast the plan as a way to capture AI-driven investment without offloading infrastructure costs onto residents.
Why it matters
New Jersey is signaling that future data-center growth may face enforceable transparency and cost-shifting rules.
Sources & driving stories
NJ.GOV GOVERNOR
NJ.gov Governor coverageSIERRA CLUB · Brewster Bevis
Sierra Club coverageWorth noting
WORTH NOTING
Coachella moves toward data-center moratorium
The council moved toward a moratorium after hundreds of residents protested the proposed Coachella Valley Technology Campus.
WORTH NOTING
Upper Macungie rejects Air Products appeal
The zoning board denied relief for a 2.6 million-square-foot campus, underscoring continued local resistance to large projects.
WORTH NOTING
NERC says data-center curtailment helps ERCOT
NERC said more large computing loads in ERCOT can be curtailed during emergencies, cutting the region’s summer demand forecast.
Still unclear
OPEN QUESTION
Will Pennsylvania codify GRID?
Shapiro said legislation is still needed to lock in the certification, tax, and fast-track changes.
OPEN QUESTION
Does Ohio's pause become permanent?
DeWine gave no end date, so the committee review could lead to a rollback or redesign of the exemption.