Data Centers and Surveillance Pricing Major Issues for New York Legislature
New York's Responsible Data Center Development Act, which includes a one-year moratorium on hyper-scale data centers, has passed both state chambers and awaits the governor's signature. The bill also introduces new regulations for electricity and water usage, labor protections, and environmental assessments. The Genesee County Economic Development Center opposes the legislation, citing concerns about overriding local review for projects like the proposed Stream Data Centers facility in Alabama.
The New York Legislature has passed the Responsible Data Center Development Act, a bill that would impose a one-year moratorium on hyper-scale data centers, defined as those with a peak load exceeding 20 megawatts. The legislation also establishes new classes for electricity and water usage, mandates labor protections, and requires environmental impact assessments for data center projects. Democratic State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, a sponsor of the bill, is pushing for the governor's swift signature, emphasizing its immediate impact on potential permits this summer.
The Genesee County Economic Development Center, led by President and CEO Mark Masse, has voiced strong opposition to the bill. Masse stated that the legislation appears to override local review and home rule, impacting projects like a proposed Stream Data Centers facility in the town of Alabama, which the center has been developing for seven months.
Separately, the Legislature also advanced the One Fair Price Package, backed by Attorney General Letitia James. This package includes the One Fair Price Act, sponsored by Democratic State Senator Rachel May, which bans companies from using personal information to set prices and passed both houses. A second proposal within the package, dealing with banning electronic price labels and sponsored by Democratic Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, was pending a vote in the Assembly.