Allegheny County, PA — Yesterday, the American Lung Association released their State of the Air report. Among the 20 most air-polluted places in the county, three are in Pennsylvania, including Allegheny County. 

The Pittsburgh region has a storied history of air pollution and had received failing air quality reports from the American Lung Association in the past. Last year, the Pittsburgh region ranked 16th worst in the country.

The report comes the day after Governor Josh Shapiro announced orders to keep two coal plants in Western Pennsylvania — Keystone and Conemaugh Generating Stations — operating four years past their retirement dates in 2028. Trump also took credit for the plants remaining operational. These coal plant extensions follow a national trend of keeping polluting coal plants operational to accommodate data center energy demands. 

Food & Water Watch Northern Regional Director Alex Beauchamp issued the follow statement in response:

“As Governor Shapiro welcomes data centers, he’s also keen to welcome more pollution and higher energy prices. Claiming to keep coal plants operating in the name of affordability is contradictory to the fact that coal is expensive — not to mention extremely detrimental to public and environmental health.

“The Pittsburgh region’s notorious fossil fuel linked air pollution has harmed millions of residents for generations. Instead of supporting a clean energy transition to improve public health, Shapiro is further sacrificing our health to accommodate Big Tech’s wishes for a data center takeover of the state. This is exactly why Pennsylvania needs a data center moratorium.”

Last month, Food & Water Watch released a first-of-its-kind report detailing the harms of the AI and data center boom infiltrating communities around the country. In October, Food & Water Watch became the first national group to call for a data center moratorium. Over 250 organizations have since joined the call — including 17 from Pennsylvania.