Senator Gonzalez Launches Statewide Tour Supporting Responsible AI Data Center Development
New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez is embarking on a statewide tour to advocate for Governor Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act. This legislation, which has passed both chambers, aims to implement regulations on data centers regarding public participation, renewable energy use, labor standards, and utility rate protection. The tour highlights community concerns about increased electricity bills, water usage, noise pollution, and environmental impacts.
New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Chair of the Senate Committee on Internet and Technology, is leading a statewide tour across New York from August 22-30. The 'New York Fights AI Data Centers' tour will visit 13 sites with active or proposed data centers to gather community input and advocate for Governor Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act (S.10642/A.11560).
The legislation, which passed both chambers with bipartisan support in June, seeks to codify requirements for public participation, transparency, renewable energy use, and labor standards for data center development. It also proposes separate water and energy rate classes for data centers to protect ratepayers from increased costs. Communities near existing data centers have reported issues such as higher electricity bills, undrinkable water, and noise pollution.
While Governor Hochul issued Executive Order No. 62 on July 14, 2026, enacting a statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data center permits (50 MW or more), Senator Gonzalez and various advocacy groups argue that the Responsible Data Center Development Act provides more comprehensive, long-term regulations. The bill specifically proposes a one-year moratorium on 20 MW+ hyperscale data centers and requires detailed environmental and cost analyses, public benefit programs, project labor agreements, and public hearings prior to permit approvals.
The tour will include stops in cities like Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Albany, Ithaca, and Syracuse, with local groups such as Food & Water Watch, Clean Air Coalition of Western NY, Seneca Lake Guardian, and Citizens for Lysander joining to voice concerns over environmental impacts, strain on the electric grid, and community well-being from large-scale data center projects including those by Greenidge Generation, DataBank, Terawulf, and Stream Data Centers. Advocates urge Governor Hochul to sign the bill to ensure robust protections for New Yorkers.