Rivera backs data center moratorium bill in Albany
New York State Assemblyman Jon Rivera is supporting a bipartisan bill in Albany to place a moratorium on new data centers that consume large amounts of electricity. This legislative action is in response to opposition from Tonawanda residents concerning a proposed $2 billion AI data center, prompting calls for greater oversight and transparency.
New York State Assemblyman Jon Rivera has publicly backed a bipartisan bill in Albany aimed at enacting a moratorium on new data centers that are significant consumers of electricity. Rivera's support for the legislation stems directly from strong opposition voiced by residents of Tonawanda, New York.
The residents' concerns are focused on a proposed $2 billion, 500,000-square-foot AI data center planned for the former Tonawanda Cooke site. Assemblyman Rivera emphasized that such large-scale projects should not proceed without proper oversight, transparency, and a comprehensive understanding of their long-term environmental and community impacts. The bill, which also seeks to cap the energy usage of data centers, is currently under review in a state assembly committee.