Long Islanders support data center moratorium, poll reveals

A recent Newsday/Siena Research Institute poll revealed that nearly half of Long Islanders and New Yorkers support a one-year moratorium on large data center development. The poll, conducted between June 17 and 23 among 412 registered voters on Long Island, found 47% of respondents backed a bill passed by the State Legislature on June 4 that would pause data center permitting, while 19% opposed it and 34% were undecided. Statewide, 46% of New Yorkers supported the moratorium, with 21% opposed.

Concerns driving this support include the massive energy and water consumption of data centers, which place pressure on infrastructure, potentially increase utility rates, and raise environmental impact questions, especially given Suffolk County's sole-source aquifer. Jennifer Fowkes of East Hampton, a poll participant, expressed gratitude for the Legislature's action, emphasizing the need for further study, though she felt a year might not be enough. Siena Research Institute executive director Don Levy noted that communities are weighing jobs against environmental concerns, with underlying public sentiment about AI's benefits versus perceived threats.

The bill now awaits Governor Kathy Hochul's signature; if signed, New York would be the first state to enact such a moratorium. The issue is gaining traction as hundreds of data centers emerge nationally and local municipalities in New York evaluate their impacts, with a large-scale data center currently proposed in Yaphank. The upcoming November elections, where Governor Hochul and all legislative seats are contested, add a political dimension to the debate.