Assemblyman Scott Gray Urges Local Control on Data Center Development in New York
Assemblyman Scott Gray advocates for local control over data center development decisions in New York, opposing a statewide moratorium bill (A11560) headed to Governor Hochul. He emphasizes that local planning and zoning boards, not the state, should decide on these projects. Gray has introduced his own legislation, the High-Energy User Act, to protect ratepayers, water, and farmland.
Assemblyman Scott Gray of New York's 116th Assembly District has publicly stated his position on data center development, emphasizing the right of residents and communities to make decisions for themselves regarding such projects. He expressed concerns about a piece of legislation, A11560, which includes a moratorium on data center development and is headed to Governor Kathy Hochul's desk.
Gray has asked Governor Hochul to veto A11560, not because he is pro-development, but because he believes the bill centralizes decision-making in Albany, taking power away from local planning boards, zoning boards, and governments. He argues that a statewide template for host community benefits or a statewide moratorium would negatively impact smaller upstate communities like those in his district. He cited the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislatures' recognition that while local governments can impose moratoriums, a county-wide rule is not appropriate, a principle he believes should guide the state.
He also highlighted ongoing protective work by the Public Service Commission to reform how large energy users connect to the grid, ensuring such facilities bear their own costs. Gray detailed the existing rigorous review process involving multiple agencies and local planning, which he says already ensures no project appears overnight. He stressed the importance of protecting affordable, reliable power for current residents and businesses in the North Country, and safeguarding farmland and the environment, criticizing A11560 for contradicting itself by requiring on-site renewables that could consume prime farmland.
To address these issues, Gray introduced his own legislation, the High-Energy User Act. This bill proposes requiring data centers to cover their own costs, mandating closed-loop cooling to protect water, and crucially, maintaining siting authority with local governments with appropriate setbacks. He asserted that his role is to provide facts and defend local voices, ensuring communities make informed decisions about data center development rather than being dictated to by the state.