Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro Announces $20 B Amazon Data Center Deal, Fueling GOP Challenge

Governor Josh Shapiro announced on June 5, 2025 that Amazon will invest at least $20 billion to build two high‑tech data center campuses in Salem Township and Falls Township, Pennsylvania. The investment is promoted as the largest private‑sector project in the Commonwealth and is tied to broader AI and cloud‑computing ambitions. Shapiro said the state will set “strict guardrails” on energy affordability, clean‑energy generation, transparency, workforce development, community impact and environmental protection for the projects.

Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a leading candidate for the 2026 gubernatorial race, initially praised the deal but now calls for a pause on new data‑center development, accusing Shapiro of flip‑flopping on the issue. Garrity’s campaign says the governor was “the biggest cheerleader” for the project until recently and alleges hypocrisy. The dispute reflects growing public concern in Pennsylvania about data‑center power use, environmental impact and rising utility costs, with recent surveys showing a majority of residents uneasy about AI‑related developments.

Both candidates have outlined differing visions for overseeing future data‑center projects, turning the investment into a focal point of their campaign contest as they vie for the Commonwealth’s top executive office.