NY state senate candidates on data centers, childcare in Hudson Valley
New York Senate candidates Robert Rolison and Lisa Kaul discussed data center policy and local impacts during a Dutchess County business forum. They addressed the East Fishkill data center moratorium and concerns about electricity, water, noise and ecological impacts, while both supported IBM's $2.5 billion quantum computing project in Poughkeepsie.
Candidates for New York State Senate District 39, incumbent Robert Rolison and challenger Lisa Kaul, debated data center development at a Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce breakfast. Rolison cited his support for New York's one-year data center moratorium and said communities need clearer information before deciding whether to host projects. Kaul raised concerns about the energy, water, noise and ecological effects of hyperscale facilities, noting that the Hudson Valley lacks sufficient grid capacity.
The proposed 1,000-megawatt data center in East Fishkill was shut down, and the town enacted a three-year moratorium that runs through July 1, 2029. Both candidates nevertheless backed IBM's planned $2.5 billion expansion of its Poughkeepsie quantum data center, which would house the IBM Starling quantum computer. The Dutchess County IDA approved a 30-year PILOT agreement, including annual payments shared with local governments and school and fire districts, plus an additional $54 million community benefit payment to the Town of Poughkeepsie.