Assemblyman Gray says data center decision making should be kept local after calls to veto moratorium
Assemblyman Scott Gray is advocating for local control over data center development decisions in New York's North Country, opposing a statewide one-year moratorium bill (A11560) that is currently awaiting Governor Hochul's approval. He argues the bill removes local authority and lacks a proper state regulatory framework to address concerns like water use, energy costs, and environmental safeguards, which are currently being studied by the Public Service Commission. Gray emphasizes that while he shares resident concerns, decisions should be made by local governments through zoning and planning boards.
Assemblyman Scott Gray has voiced opposition to Assembly Bill A11560, which proposes a one-year statewide moratorium on data center development in New York, currently awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul's approval. Gray, representing the North Country, argues that decision-making authority regarding data center projects should remain with local municipalities, such as Massena and Watertown, rather than being dictated by Albany. He emphasized that his call for a veto of the bill is not an endorsement of data centers but a stand against state overreach and a lack of proper statewide regulatory framework for local governments.
While acknowledging and sharing residents' concerns about water consumption, energy costs, and environmental impacts, Gray asserted that the state's role should be to provide a robust regulatory framework with clear standards, not to impose a blanket moratorium. He highlighted that the Public Service Commission is already conducting a comprehensive study on data centers, covering energy demand, ratepayer impacts, water use, and siting issues, with a report due in February 2027. Gray believes a statewide freeze makes little sense before these expert findings can inform a permanent regulatory structure, thereby enabling communities to make informed decisions based on local zoning, planning, and public hearings.