Sen. Gonzalez stops in Albany as part of 'Stop Data Centers' tour
Senator Kristen Gonzalez is on a statewide "Stop Data Centers" tour, advocating for Governor Kathy Hochul to sign a legislative bill imposing a one-year moratorium on data center development. Residents in Albany's South End are actively opposing a proposed 500,000-square-foot data center at the former Kenwood Academy site due to environmental and cost concerns. Governor Hochul has already signed an executive order for a moratorium on hyperscale data centers, but the legislative bill has a lower power consumption threshold for restriction.
State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez of New York is leading a "Stop Data Centers" tour across the state to rally support for a legislative bill imposing a one-year moratorium on data center development. The bill, which passed both houses of the Legislature in June, is awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul's signature. Sen. Gonzalez argues her bill provides stronger environmental and social protections than Gov. Hochul's existing executive order, which also imposes a moratorium but applies only to hyperscale data centers consuming 50 megawatts or more of power; the legislative bill would apply to those using 20 megawatts or more.
During a stop in Albany, Sen. Gonzalez was joined by local residents and advocates, including community activist Paul Collins-Hackett and Albany County Legislator Merton Simpson Jr., to oppose a proposed 500,000-square-foot data center and tech hub at the former Kenwood Academy site. Developer Michael-Henry Elghanian-Krayem's project, Kenwood Commons Edge, is slated for a $2 billion investment. Opponents, including Sen. Patricia Fahy, voice concerns about the data center's potential impact on clean drinking water, increased utility costs, and the local heat signature, noting the South End's historical burden from polluting industries. Another data center project by Stream Data Centers in Genesee County was also mentioned as a point of opposition.