NYS Governor challenges AI companies to innovate, mitigate data center impacts
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul discussed her data center moratorium Executive Order, which aims to establish a framework for municipalities engaging with data center companies. She challenged AI companies to innovate and reduce the power, water, and noise impacts of hyperscale data centers.
NYS Governor Kathy Hochul, in an exclusive interview with CBS6's Tom Eschen on Power & Politics, discussed her recent Executive Order regarding data centers. The Governor articulated her challenge to artificial intelligence companies to innovate solutions that mitigate the environmental and resource impacts of hyperscale data centers. She suggested that AI companies, with their technological prowess, should be able to develop methods to operate smaller, more efficient, and less resource-intensive facilities.
Governor Hochul emphasized the importance of addressing concerns from various communities across the country regarding the scale and demands of data centers, noting that the industry is "losing the public relations war." Her Executive Order is designed to provide a framework for municipalities in New York State to use when negotiating with companies planning to build data centers within their jurisdictions, aiming to balance innovation with local concerns over energy, water, and noise.