Lawler Hits Conley on Data Centers, Sidesteps His Own Stance
Congressmember Mike Lawler and Democratic challenger Cait Conley are debating data center policy in the Hudson Valley, including Governor Hochul's moratorium and the proposed Ratepayer Protection Act. A Databank expansion in Rockland County faces local opposition due to concerns about power bills and water contamination. Lawler, while co-sponsoring a bill to make data centers pay for infrastructure, has avoided taking a stance on the local project.
In a closely watched Hudson Valley election, Congressmember Mike Lawler is targeting Democratic challenger Cait Conley over data center policy, suggesting her consulting work implies support for data center development. This comes despite Conley's public endorsement of Governor Kathy Hochul's one-year moratorium on large data center construction, which Lawler has criticized as anti-business.
The political debate also encompasses legislative actions and local project opposition. Lawler is a co-sponsor of the Ratepayer Protection Act, a bipartisan bill intended to require data centers to bear the full cost of necessary energy infrastructure upgrades, though this bill has drawn criticism from the Data Center Coalition. Meanwhile, Lawler has refrained from taking a public position on the controversial expansion of a Databank facility in Rockland County, a project that has sparked significant local backlash over potential increases in power bills and water contamination risks. Conley has publicly opposed this Databank expansion.
Conley's campaign points to Lawler's campaign donations from banks with data center interests and his support for legislation that could favor data center construction. The ongoing discussions underscore broader community concerns regarding energy consumption and environmental impact, reflecting a growing political focus on data center development.