Pennsylvania candidates debate data center regulation and affordability

Candidates for the Pennsylvania State Senate and House of Representatives participated in a forum in Honesdale to discuss regional issues ahead of the 2026 election. Key topics included economic affordability and the regulation of data centers.

Democratic candidates Jackie Baker, Kyle Devlin, and Dominique Azzolini addressed concerns regarding rising costs in housing, education, and economic development. Devlin, a quality assurance engineer, advocated for state-level regulation of hyperscale data centers while maintaining local authority over zoning and ordinances to protect community resources.

This discussion follows an executive order by Governor Josh Shapiro that removed data center proposals from the Fast Track permitting process, requiring developers to comply with state GRID energy requirements.