Tech and business groups are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to reject a measure set to be passed in Albany Thursday that will block new data centers from coming online in New York for one year.
Groups like the Business Council of New York and Tech:NYC blasted Albany Democrats for ramming the measure through before wrapping their work for the year, arguing it will stymie economic growth.
“We believe that we can get this right and we believe that we should just put a pause on the application process and look at it,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Westchester) told reporters Thursday, confirming her chamber would pass the bill.
“We don’t think data centers are going away, but we do think we can have a say,” she added.
The bill would institute a one-year moratorium on permitting for new data centers of more than 5 megawatts.
Hochul has thrown cold water on statewide restrictions recently, saying permitting should be up to localities.
