tech
‘We should not have to sacrifice’: New York could become first state to temporarily ban large datacenters
Kristen Gonzalez, a state senator who authored the bill, said moratorium would target ‘hyperscale’ datacenters over 20MW
TL;DR
- New York is close to becoming the first US state to enact a one-year moratorium on large datacenters.
- The bill, approved by the state legislature, targets 'hyperscale' datacenters over 20MW.
- Concerns driving the moratorium include high energy and water usage, and potential negative impacts on local communities.
- State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, a co-author of the bill, stressed the need for state oversight against powerful tech companies.
- The moratorium would require environmental impact reports, new labor and energy efficiency standards, and ratepayer protections.
- The Data Center Coalition opposes the ban, arguing it would harm New York's economy and discourage investment.
- Residents in rural areas, like Cheryl Cordes, are expressing strong opposition to nearby datacenter developments due to concerns about utility costs and environmental disruption.