BATAVIA/NYS Senator Kristen Gonzalez visits with local labor groups at Liberty and Ellicott Streets before her stop at Eden Cafe for her ‘NY Fights AI Data Centers’ Tour
State Senator Kristen Gonzalez is on a "NY Fights AI Data Centers" tour, visiting Batavia to advocate for the Responsible Data Center Development Act (S.10642). This act, passed by the NYS Legislature, seeks to codify long-term regulations on data center development. It builds on Governor Hochul's Executive Order No. 62, which enacted a statewide pause on new hyperscale data center construction.
State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, representing parts of Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, held a listening session in Batavia, New York, as part of her 'NY Fights AI Data Centers' Tour. The event, held at Liberty and Ellicott Streets, engaged with local labor groups and residents.
Senator Gonzalez is advocating for the Responsible Data Center Development Act (S.10642), legislation she sponsored that passed both chambers of the NYS Legislature earlier this year with bipartisan support. The bill aims to establish long-term regulations for data center developments, including provisions for public engagement, labor agreements, and energy efficiency standards.
This legislative effort comes after Governor Kathy Hochul signed Executive Order No. 62 on July 14, 2026, implementing a statewide pause on new hyperscale data center construction in New York, making it the first state to do so. While the Executive Order is a temporary measure, event organizers and advocates are urging Governor Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act to ensure more permanent protections and regulations once the one-year Executive Order expires.
The listening session provided Senator Gonzalez, who chairs the Senate Committee on Internet and Technology, an opportunity to understand the impacts of these projects on rural communities across the state.