By Blake Jackson
New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez joined Gov. Kathy Hochul, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other officials for a roundtable at Fishkill Farms in Fishkill, New York, to discuss the effects of data center development on water resources, land use, energy costs and local businesses, particularly those in the agricultural sector.
The meeting brought together state and federal representatives, agricultural leaders and community stakeholders to examine concerns about the growing resource demands of large-scale data centers.
Participants included U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan, State Sen. Michelle Hinchey, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball, Fishkill Farms owner and operator Josh Morgenthau, Dutchess County Industrial Development Agency Chair Mark Doyle, Ooms & Sons Dairy Farm owner Eric Ooms, Westchester County Association President and CEO Michael Romita, and Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan.
In May, Gonzalez introduced the Responsible Data Center Development Act (S10642), legislation intended to establish safeguards for communities affected by data center projects.
The bill passed by the New York State Legislature with bipartisan support during the final weeks of the legislative session. Gonzalez subsequently joined Hochul as the governor signed Executive Order 62, establishing a statewide moratorium on hyperscale data centers.
Concerns surrounding these facilities include rising electricity costs, heavy water consumption, land development, and potential disruptions to surrounding communities. As part of her New York Fights AI Data Centers statewide tour, Gonzalez visited 13 existing or proposed data center sites and met with residents concerned about their environmental and economic impacts.
East Fishkill was the fifth stop on the tour. Residents there organized against a proposed 800,000-square-foot, 1,000-megawatt data center and successfully pushed for a local three-year moratorium on new facilities.
Community advocates continue to seek comprehensive regulations that would remain effective after temporary restrictions expire.
Gonzalez's proposed legislation would require public engagement, community benefits, and environmental protections to help address the long-term effects of data center development. Hochul has until the end of 2026 to sign the bill into law.
“Across New York State, communities are united in the fight against AI data centers. On my New York Fights AI Data Centers statewide tour, I visited 13 existing or proposed data center sites. I met with New Yorkers in communities, just like East Fishkill, fighting to protect their environmental resources and their energy bills from massive data centers," Senator Kristen Gonzalez said.
"Thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul’s leadership, we have a first-in-the-nation statewide moratorium on the largest data centers. We need to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act into law to mandate public engagement and long term community investment. Alongside Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s federal moratorium on data centers, New York is positioned to be a leader in checking Big Tech, regulating data centers, and putting forward a positive vision for innovation that puts people over profit,” Senator Gonzalez added.
Photo Credit: ny-senator
Categories: New York, Government & Policy