1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

I am writing as your constituent to ask you to develop and issue an executive order establishing interim standards for large data-center and artificial-intelligence infrastructure projects in our state while the legislature considers comprehensive legislation on this issue. Pennsylvania offers a useful example of how a state can respond during this interim period. Governor Josh Shapiro’s Executive Order 2026-05 applies Pennsylvania’s Responsible Infrastructure Development, or GRID, Requirements to data-center projects. The framework addresses electric-grid reliability and affordability, environmental protection, water use, community engagement, transparency, workforce development, and community benefits. It also seeks to ensure that developers—not households and small businesses—bear the costs of the additional generation and grid infrastructure their projects require. We should consider a similar approach. Data centers can bring investment, jobs, and technological opportunity, but they can also place substantial demands on the electric grid, water supplies, roads, and local communities. Without clear standards, residents and small businesses may ultimately bear costs created by private development. Until the legislature is ready to act, I respectfully ask that your administration examine whether existing executive and agency authority can be used to: Require developers to pay the full incremental costs of generation, transmission, distribution, water, wastewater, and other infrastructure needed for their projects; Prevent data-center projects from shifting those costs to residential customers, small businesses, or other ratepayers; Require rigorous review of projected electricity consumption, peak demand, water use, emissions, and environmental effects; Require meaningful local approval and public meetings before state permits are issued; Establish enforceable standards for reliability, energy sourcing, water conservation, environmental protection, workforce development, and community benefits; Require public disclosure of a project’s ownership, anticipated energy and water use, infrastructure needs, tax incentives, and expected community impacts; and Coordinate state-agency reviews so that affected communities receive clear and consistent information. I especially encourage you to prohibit state agencies and publicly supported project developers from using nondisclosure agreements to conceal material information about proposed data centers. Pennsylvania’s approach is notable in this respect: restricting NDAs can make the permitting process substantially more transparent to the communities affected by these projects. Residents who may experience higher utility costs, increased water consumption, construction impacts, or environmental risks should not have to rely on incomplete or selectively released information when participating in the permitting process. A prohibition on NDAs concerning material project information would support independent review, improve public confidence, and allow residents to participate meaningfully before key decisions are made. This executive action would not need to replace legislation. It could establish a reasonable baseline and fill the regulatory gap until the legislature has the opportunity to enact a durable statutory framework. Any order should preserve legislative authority, comply with existing law, and include a clear process for public participation and periodic review. I urge you to direct the relevant agencies to draft such an order and to work with legislative leaders, local governments, utilities, labor organizations, environmental groups, affected residents, and the data-center industry to develop practical and enforceable standards. This approach welcomes responsible investment while ensuring that the public does not subsidize private infrastructure demands and that affected communities have a genuine voice in the process. Thank you for your consideration.