Governor Shapiro’s GRID Initiative Sells Us Out

Pennsylvania is at the forefront of saying enough is enough. The birthplace of our nation knows standing up to oppressive powers. What was once British tyranny is now corporate oligarchy. The consequences are still the same. Sovereignty and a say over the reality you live—the heart of the fight where it always was: Pennsylvania.

‍As we approach our semiquincentennial it's hard to share the optimism our founders must've felt. Back then their frustrations turned into decisions, and those very decisions founded a nation to house rebels. Rebellion then wasn't reckless foolishness, but a community united—all refusing to be conscripted to a life devoid of having their opinions heard.

‍As a Scranton native it’s clear that sentiment here at home is blanketed in fear of AI overreach and the infrastructure it requires. Our valley is being sacrificed to Silicon Valley's AI experiment.

What was once British tyranny is now corporate oligarchy.

‍Ground zero of our regional fight is in Archbald, a small town a few miles north of Scranton. Recently, this small town has finally garnered national attention and for once it felt like we weren't forgotten.

‍Headlines circulate of the "51 Walmart Supercenters" that house no workers and the technology poised to hand those across our region and state their official layoff letters. Our politicians seem to be surprisingly quiet as they appear ready to sign away our future. A staggering 14% of the land available to Archbald is poised to be relegated to useless computations, left stained and unavailable.

‍One could understand why you'd be against legislative support that repeats hellish offenses of the past—this time it’s technocrats detached from reality. Companies buying land that they have no ties to, no way to feel the weight of their decision. They make palpable disdain too easy for the people of Archbald and our valley. Refusal to live within mere feet of a data center isn't just appropriate; it's required.

I recently published a letter to the editor throughout our region's papers titled "Are Data Centers the New Anthracite” expressing the frustration felt by us common folk. Our skepticism isn't conspiracy theorist rambling, it's fear of a past poised to engulf our region again, now with a modern spin.

Promises made by outside actors fixing to make a dollar at our expense, garnering local political support miraculously—seemingly out of thin air. Skepticism of AI data centers isn't just a trend; it's something imprinted within the soul of our region, a coconspirator within our DNA.

Our skepticism isn’t conspiracy theorist rambling, it’s fear of a past poised to engulf our region again, now with a modern spin.

What was once coal and a few decades of prosperity will now be a few years of construction jobs and a power grid strained, a water supply in question. We aren't fearful for the fun of it. We're used to being sold short—sent down the river with no paddle because the factory that makes them shut down.

The argument from those within our region is the same one our founders waged 250 years ago. Why would we accept something that only poses a threat to our way of life? It's a fair question, and one that anyone regardless of political affiliation could feel. When has it ever been American to accept shortcomings or detriments to your community?

While we stand to benefit from our past experience—carrying the scars of broken promises of economic stability—we must stay in the fight. Thankfully, reality has been just that. Communities across social media are exploding in protest. Local hearings and board meetings are packed with locals providing a consistent flow of pressure.

Today, Governor Josh Shapiro released his GRID (Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development) standards. It’s a carrot not a stick—only “mandating” conditions like a minimum of 200 temporary construction jobs and 50 permanent positions within four years of completion for Commonwealth support. It doesn’t require anything be done about Pennsylvanians’ actual concerns—only the commitment of “good faith discussions,” which can ultimately be waived, at a later date. On energy, the conditional standards require developers to find their own power but allows up to 90% of that power to come from non-clean sources through 2027—only rising to 32% clean by 2035. For a region already watching electricity bills climb, the timeline feels like an afterthought and only strengthens fears of possible broken promises.

Our state government needs to slow down and impose the restrictions we beg for. They need to question the moral implications of deciding a future that spans beyond their backdoor deals. The rage we feel over letting our land be Silicon Valley's next coal mine is well-founded—because it's all temporary. The scope of the benefits doesn’t even clear the bar that would allow for adequate consideration.

We don't ask that our problems be solved overnight, but we do ask for a fair chance. Our state representatives and local politicians are public servants that must strongly consider the very moratoriums we're begging for.

At the moment it feels like we're shouting into a void. Fortunately, this void happens to be one filled with likeminded Pennsylvanians all asking the same question: where is Harrisburg?

Where is Harrisburg?

Joshua K. Burke — Governor Shapiro’s GRID Initiative Sells Us Out