“We’re going to outlaw any more Amazon centers. Bwaaah . . . ”

Photo above - MLS regular season champs (most wins) Philadelphia Union take to the field at their iconic riverfront stadium, in Chester PA. Philadelphia politicians blocked the team from locating in the city itself more than a decade ago. Who's laughing now?

America may be entering peak dystopia. Or at least Pennsylvania is. Low level politicians want to prevent reform of land zoning and permitting – to prevent a statewide plan which would allow consistent standards for land use and commercial development. The first casualty? Amazon. $20 billion in investments are now at risk.

As you might predict, “the environment” is what local part time county and municipal politicians say is top of mind. This of course, is the same excuse being used to block roads, bridges, high speed rail, and new power plants.

Did someone say new power plants? Bingo! These local politicians are now also complaining there isn’t enough electricity to sell any to Amazon.

I agree. America is short on electricity. Data centers are a fast-growing consumer of KwH. I’ve devoted several columns this year to the problem. But it does seem kind of cheeky to say no to power plants, then turn around and use your state's already frail and decrepit grid as the reason you can’t allow more data centers. The seem more benign than steel mills or the giant coal mining operations in western PA.

Wait . . . it gets funnier. Pennsylvania, along with many other states, long ago jumped on the EV car bandwagon. Talk about mass consumption of scarce electrons. And now natural gas furnaces, cooktops, and hot water heaters are being dumped in landfills to make way for all-electric replacement appliances. Which might be a good idea, pollution-wise, if communities weren’t set on blocking almost every kind of economic development.

There’s no telling how this Amazon vs. NIMBY wrestling match is going to end. The last major NIMBY fight ended up in a loss for Philadelphia, and a win for impoverished Chester PA. The Philadelphia Union MLS team – more than a decade ago – was told to go pound sand when they asked about building their stadium within the city limits. Chester – about 20 miles down the road – said “no problem. We have a hundred acres of waterfront that we’d like to redevelop into a sports/dining/shopping mecca. Let’s talk.”

Last night Philadelphia’s soccer team clinched the “supporters shield” (a trophy) for the most victories in the 2025 season. And Chester is using the new tax revenue to continue revitalization of their city. Good luck in the playoffs, Philadelphia Union.

I’m just sayin’ . . .



Lawmakers divided as Amazon's $20 billion plan presents major pros and cons: 'Faster isn't better'