The latest Quinnipiac University polling delivers a sharp rebuke of Governor Shapiro position on AI data centers. According to the poll:

• 74 percent of voters say they would oppose building an AI data center in their community, compared to 16 percent of voters that would support it. 
• 34 percent of voters disapprove of the governor’s handling of AI data centers in the state, compared to 24 percent of voters who approve; 

Since Quinnipiac University first released polling on the issue in February, opposition to AI data center construction increased by 6 percent. 

This new polling comes days after Shapiro signed a 2026-2027 fiscal budget absent any data center regulations. The furthest the governor went was to require data center operators to self-report water and energy use. 

Alex Beauchamp, Northern Regional Director for Food & Water Watch, issued the following statement in response: 

“AI data centers only benefit billionaires, not the people who have to live with the behemoth facilities. It’s no surprise Pennsylvanians want nothing to do with this destructive industry.

“Time and time again, Governor Shapiro has proven willing to give away water, energy, land — and even tax breaks — to corporate developers who don’t care about Pennsylvanians. The budget was a chance for him to rewrite the record — he failed, leaving Pennsylvanians out to dry, again. This poll provides even more evidence that this approach  will not fly with people of all political persuasions. Pennsylvanians want better — we need a statewide data center moratorium, to develop strong, commonsense regulations that actually protect communities.”

The polling comes just weeks after 180+ Pennsylvanians rallied in the state capital to demand action on data centers. Senator Katie Muth, one of the event’s speakers, introduced a three-year data center moratorium bill that is currently in front of the Local Government Senate Committee. 

Earlier this week, New York became the first state in the nation to enact a statewide, 12-month data center moratorium.