New York State Senator Announces Data Center Moratorium Tour
New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez announced a statewide tour to promote the Responsible Data Center Development Act, which includes a one-year moratorium on data center development, following Governor Kathy Hochul's recent executive order for a similar pause. The legislation and executive order aim to address environmental impact, labor standards, and energy concerns related to data centers. Critics, however, argue against the moratorium, disputing its supposed impact on utility rates and grid stability.
New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez announced a statewide tour from August 22-30 to advocate for the Responsible Data Center Development Act, a measure she sponsored that passed the state legislature. The Act proposes a one-year moratorium on data center development to conduct environmental impact studies, establish labor standards, and implement renewable energy requirements, emphasizing climate concerns.
This legislative push follows Governor Kathy Hochul's signing of the nation's first one-year data center moratorium via executive order in July. While both measures call for a one-year pause, Senator Gonzalez noted that her bill covers a broader range of facilities starting at 20 megawatts or more, whereas the Governor's executive order focuses on hyperscale centers utilizing 50 megawatts or more.
Critics, including Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United, voiced opposition to the legislative efforts against data centers. Wilcox contended that the argument regarding data centers driving up utility rates in New York is unfounded, stating that the state lacks sufficient data centers to impact rates and has lost more generating capacity than it has gained since 2019. Governor Hochul's office indicated that the legislation is still under review, with a thorough process underway to examine its implications before any final decision on signing it.