Calls Grow In Rockland For Gov Hochul To Sign Responsible Data Center Development Act
Rockland County officials and state lawmakers are urging Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act, which would impose a one-year moratorium on large data centers exceeding 20 megawatts and mandate a study of their long-term impacts. This legislative push is driven by ongoing community opposition to a DataBank expansion project in Orangeburg and broader concerns about electricity consumption and utility costs.
Rockland County and state lawmakers are advocating for New York Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act, a bill already passed by both the State Assembly and Senate. The proposed legislation would implement a one-year moratorium on data centers with a peak load exceeding 20 megawatts, requiring a study into their long-term environmental and economic impacts, including on utility bills. Dr. Dana Stilley, a Democratic Rockland County legislator, and Assemblyman Patrick Carroll, a co-sponsor of the bill, emphasized the need to balance technological growth with community well-being.
This legislative effort is particularly spurred by local resistance to a DataBank expansion project in Orangeburg, Rockland County, which is currently undergoing an environmental review. While Governor Hochul previously signed an executive order establishing a one-year moratorium on data centers using 50 megawatts or more, Assemblyman Carroll views the proposed legislation as more comprehensive. Supporters of data center development argue that such facilities are crucial for meeting the demands of artificial intelligence and cloud storage.