Congressman Josh Riley introduces legislation aimed at data center developers
Congressman Josh Riley introduced the FAIR Data Act, legislation aimed at holding data center developers accountable for energy costs and job claims. The bill requires developers to cover power grid upgrade costs and complements Governor Hochul's one-year moratorium on data center expansion in New York. Riley advocates for union labor to focus on housing projects instead of data centers, which he claims drive up prices.
Congressman Josh Riley (D-NY-19) has introduced the FAIR Data Act, legislation designed to address the environmental and economic impacts of data center development in New York. The bill aims to hold developers accountable for their claims regarding job creation and utility bill reductions, proposing a system to evaluate these promises. Riley stated that the legislation would also mandate that approved data center construction projects bear all costs associated with upgrading the power grid to support their new facilities.
The Congressman's initiative precedes Governor Kathy Hochul's recent executive order, which imposed a one-year moratorium on most data center expansions in New York. Riley expressed support for the governor's order, viewing it as a crucial period to establish the regulatory framework his bill advocates. He emphasized that if developers "promise one thing, and it turns out to be something else, we're going to hold you accountable for it."
While organized labor groups have voiced opposition to Governor Hochul's executive order, citing the union jobs created by data center construction, Riley countered by suggesting that union members should instead focus on building much-needed housing projects. He argued that housing construction would lower costs and benefit middle-class families, whereas extensive data center development "is jacking up prices on folks."