Hochul discusses New York hyperscale data center moratorium at East Fishkill meeting
Gov. Kathy Hochul and congressional representatives held a roundtable in East Fishkill about concerns surrounding proposed hyperscale data centers, including their potential impacts on water, land use, energy costs and the electric grid. Hochul has temporarily halted new hyperscale data center development in New York while the state develops a regulatory framework.
Gov. Kathy Hochul joined Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pat Ryan for a roundtable with farmers, advocates and businesses at Fishkill Farms in East Fishkill, Dutchess County. The discussion focused on the rapid growth of hyperscale data center proposals driven by artificial intelligence and the potential effects on water supplies, land use, energy costs, ratepayers and local communities.
Hochul signed an executive order this summer pausing discretionary state environmental permits for new hyperscale data centers for up to one year. Empire State Development is developing a Community Investment Framework to establish protections and cost offsets for host communities, while state officials are also considering ending sales tax exemptions for large data centers.