Lobbying spending hits $64.5 million in July and August
Lobbyists spent $64.5 million in New York during July and August, with data center regulation attracting more filings than any other legislation. A state data center moratorium bill remains unsigned, while an executive order has paused permits for new facilities requiring at least 50 megawatts and advocacy groups are seeking broader environmental, utility and consumer protections.
Lobbying expenditures in New York reached $64.5 million in July and August, according to the state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government. Data center legislation generated 101 disclosure reports, making it the most-lobbied legislation during the reporting period. COELIG Executive Director Sanford Berland said the legislation was the first non-budget bill to rank among the state’s three most-lobbied measures in a two-month period this year.
The Responsible Data Center Development Act, which would impose a moratorium on 20-megawatt facilities, passed both legislative chambers in June but awaits action from Gov. Kathy Hochul. Hochul separately issued an executive order pausing permits for data centers requiring at least 50 megawatts and has proposed a $1 million-per-megawatt municipal payment. During a Public Service Commission meeting in Albany, environmental and consumer groups led by Frack Action urged regulators to consider water use, noise, utility bills and grid impacts in addition to capacity. Other proposed bills would require environmental disclosures, prohibit certain utility discounts, impose a three-year moratorium and require large data centers to fund grid upgrades.