Bill And National Context
New York state lawmakers have introduced a bill that would impose a moratorium of at least three years on permits tied to the construction and operation of new data centers. Wired reported that while the bill’s prospects remain uncertain, New York is at least the sixth state to consider pausing new data center projects. The proposal comes as technology companies plan to spend increasing amounts on building infrastructure to support artificial intelligence systems.
Both Democrats and Republicans have raised concerns about how data centers affect nearby communities. Studies have linked these facilities to higher household electricity bills, adding to the political focus on their local impact.
Political Support And Opposition
Criticism of data center expansion has come from across the political spectrum. Senator Bernie Sanders, a progressive, has called for a national moratorium. Florida governor Ron DeSantis, a conservative, said data centers would lead to “higher energy bills just so some chatbot can corrupt some 13 year old kid online.” More than 230 environmental groups, including Food & Water Watch, Friends of the Earth, and Greenpeace, recently signed an open letter to Congress urging a nationwide pause on new data center construction.
Eric Weltman of Food & Water Watch told Wired that the New York bill, sponsored by state senator Liz Krueger and assemblymember Anna Kelles, both Democrats, was “our idea.” Similar proposals have appeared in other states, with Democrats introducing bills in Georgia, Vermont, and Virginia, and Republicans backing measures in Maryland and Oklahoma.
State Readiness And Policy Goals
According to Politico, Krueger said New York is “completely unprepared” for what she described as “massive data centers” that are seeking to locate in the state. She said the goal is to pause new permits to allow time to adopt stronger policies and to avoid leaving utility customers with higher costs if the market shifts.
She said it was time to stop and create space to develop rules for data centers rather than move forward without a framework in place.
Governor’s Energy Initiative
Last month, New York governor Kathy Hochul announced a new initiative called Energize NY Development. Her office said the program would update how large energy users, including data centers, connect to the power grid and would require them to “pay their fair share.” The initiative was presented as a way to address the growing energy demands of large facilities while adjusting cost responsibilities.
Featured image credits: Chad Davis via Wikimedia Commons
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