New York state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said lawmakers aim to pass a bill that would put a one-year moratorium on data center construction in the state.
It comes after an initial bill implementing a three-year moratorium was reworked to shorten the time span to allow the state to study the impacts the centers would have on their surrounding communities and the environment.
“We intend to pass it. It was a combination of a number of bills. I’d say it was more of an omnibus bill,” Heastie told reporters Tuesday in Albany. “But between the two houses, we talked to some of the other stakeholders, so I think we’re comfortable with passing that bill.”
The International Business Machines Corporation describes data centers as the backbone of the internet and explains the facilities’ role as storing thousands of networks, data and power.
It’s the power that is among the top concerns of some lawmakers and advocates, especially at a time when ratepayers are seeing higher energy costs.
This comes as the town of Alabama, in Genesee County, is the site of a proposed massive $19.4 billion, 2.2 million square foot stream data center. It’s facing strong opposition due to environmental and energy concerns from some residents. The project is estimated to create 125 jobs.
Khara Boender, director of state policy at the Data Center Coalition, told Spectrum News 1 in May that a three-year moratorium could signal to data centers that they’re not welcome in New York state.
Lawmakers have limited time to act, however, as the legislative session is scheduled to end on Friday.
For her part, Gov. Kathy Hochul said last month that she would like to see development that creates more jobs in the long run.