New Yorkers to Governor Hochul: Stop The Rush to Build AI Data Centers
Food & Water Watch and allied organizations submitted 5,528 comments urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to strengthen New York’s environmental review of hyperscale AI data centers before lifting the state’s temporary construction moratorium. Critics say the draft review fails to adequately address impacts on electricity costs, the power grid, water, climate, and communities, while pointing to Greenidge Generation’s proposed Seneca Lake project as an example of ongoing development pressure.
Food & Water Watch and allied environmental, labor, faith and community groups delivered 5,528 public comments to Gov. Kathy Hochul as New York’s comment period on the environmental review of new hyperscale data centers ended. The groups said the draft scope is too limited and the review process is moving too quickly to adequately assess effects on energy affordability, utilities, water, air quality, climate and environmental justice.
Hochul issued an executive order in July imposing a temporary moratorium on new data center construction while the state completes a formal industry review. Advocacy organizations urged her not to lift the moratorium until the review is expanded, while the New York Public Service Commission was criticized for limiting the scope of the environmental analysis. Yvonne Taylor of Seneca Lake Guardian cited Greenidge Generation’s effort to rebrand and develop a hyperscale data center on Seneca Lake as evidence of the pressure to resume data center construction across the state.