Lawler Calls on Hochul, NYPA to Disclose Electricity Discounts for Orangeburg Data Centers
Congressman Mike Lawler has called on Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to disclose the value of electricity discounts provided to three data centers in Orangeburg, Rockland County, through the state's ReCharge NY program. Lawler argues that residents deserve to know these figures, especially given high electricity costs and a recent statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data centers. NYPA has previously withheld this information, citing proprietary contract details.
U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler has formally requested that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) reveal the financial benefits three Orangeburg data centers receive from the state's ReCharge NY program. This program grants lower-cost electricity to qualifying businesses, but NYPA has previously declined to disclose the specific discount amounts or rates, citing proprietary contract information.
In a letter dated September 18, Lawler urged the administration to reconsider these discounts or, at minimum, make the total annual cost and average subsidy public. He highlighted the inconsistency between providing these subsidies to existing facilities and Governor Hochul's recent one-year moratorium on new hyperscale data centers, which was enacted to develop environmental and ratepayer protections.
Lawler criticized state policies for New York's high electricity prices, noting that federal data shows the state's residential electricity costs are significantly above the national average. He also referenced the recently passed bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act in the House, which would require state utility regulators to consider whether large electricity users like data centers should bear incremental infrastructure costs.
NYPA maintains that ReCharge NY is a vital economic-development tool designed to retain and attract businesses and jobs within New York. As of the report, neither Governor Hochul nor NYPA had issued a new response directly addressing Lawler's latest request for transparency.