Rockland County Faces Data Center Expansion Debates and Opposition
Rockland County residents are opposing data center expansions, citing environmental and financial concerns, particularly in Orangetown where a DataBank expansion is proposed. This local opposition is intensifying amid a state bill for data center protections and a proposed local moratorium in Orangetown, as well as a large tax break granted to JP Morgan Chase for its facility.
Residents in Rockland County, New York, are actively fighting back against the proliferation of data centers, with particular focus on Orangetown. Concerns center around the environmental impact (noise, water, and air pollution) and financial strain, including rising energy costs for local utility ratepayers.
Opposition efforts intensified after Rockland County granted JP Morgan Chase $77 million in sales tax breaks for an expansion of its existing facility in Orangetown, which had previously received $35 million in tax breaks. This decision sparked outrage, especially given a report by New York Focus suggesting the expansion would create only one job. Steven Porvath, the IDA's executive director, defended the tax breaks, claiming the project would generate over $130 million (net) in long-term revenue, primarily for construction and maintenance contractors.
Locally, Orangetown residents are seeking to halt a proposed expansion by DataBank, whose facility is near the Tappan Lake Reservoir. In response to public backlash, the Orangetown Town Board has proposed a local moratorium on new data centers, but critically, this legislation does not include the DataBank expansion, leading to further resident frustration. Concurrently, New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez sponsored the "Responsible Data Center Development Bill" to provide community protections and application transparency, which is awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul's signature. Governor Hochul had previously issued a state-wide data center moratorium in July but appears hesitant to sign Gonzalez's bill, acknowledging the rapid pace of data center development across the state and potential strain on the power grid.
The data center debate has also become a talking point in local political races. In the NY-17 congressional race, incumbent Mike Lawler emphasizes the urgency of data center development for AI competitiveness, while challenger Cait Conley prioritizes local resident needs over corporate benefits. Similarly, in the 38th State Senate District, Republican incumbent Bill Weber voted against Gonzalez's bill, whereas Democratic challenger Joe Rand supports it, citing concerns about utility bill increases.