Governors Crack Down on Data Centers | Hattiesburg News

Governors nationwide are turning up the heat on new data center projects as elections loom, responding to public outcry over their massive energy and water demands. Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro now requires developers to foot their own electricity bills, prove water-saving tech, and get local approval—calling out “predatory” firms. Texas rivals are already attacking Governor Abbott for allegedly favoring data centers over residents. Arizona and New York have imposed tax and permit freezes to reassess environmental impacts, while Illinois and Ohio governors push for stricter standards. Even in Wisconsin, where a data center moratorium was a top campaign issue, the Democratic nominee still won—showing the debate is fierce but not yet decisive. This growing political firestorm signals that data centers are no longer just tech infrastructure—they’re becoming central battlegrounds in state elections. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6caa53a42d905fee