Albany, NY – Assemblymember Gabriella Romero (D, WFP–Albany, Guilderland, New Scotland) voted to pass the Responsible Data Center Development Act to temporarily pause new data center development across New York State (A.11560). The legislation would establish a one-year moratorium on large data center permits to study their impacts on the environment and utility system, as well as establish protections for communities.

“Technology is moving quickly, but our responsibility to protect communities has to come first,” said Assemblymember Romero. “Before additional large-scale data centers are approved, we need a better understanding of how they will impact our communities, our environment, and our utility infrastructure. This legislation gives us the time to gather that information and make sure New Yorkers are protected.”

Data centers, especially hyperscale data centers, have raised concerns in communities across the country - including the Albany community - regarding increased energy use, water consumption, infrastructure strain and quality-of-life impacts such as noise and light pollution.

To address these concerns, the Responsible Data Center Development Act would implement several measures, including:

• placing a one-year moratorium on issuing large data center permits and requiring hearings before these permits are issued;
• requiring the Department of Environmental Conservation to develop an environmental impact report on data center development in the state, including information about electricity usage, water consumption and discharge, pollution generated and public health impacts;
• establishing reasonable energy efficiency and renewable energy goals for data centers;
• mandating data centers provide benefits for host communities and measures to prevent adverse impacts;
• requiring electric corporations, gas corporations and municipalities to establish an independent classification of service for large energy use facilities; and
• creating labor standards for the construction of data centers.

“We should not be making decisions about projects of this scale without fully understanding their long-term impacts,” Assemblymember Romero said. “This bill allows us to take a more thoughtful, responsible approach to ensure that ratepayers are not left bearing the cost.”