New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez (SD-59), Chair of the Senate Committee on Internet and Technology and sponsor of the Responsible Data Center Development Act (S.10642), will be embarking on the New York Fights AI Data Centers statewide tour from August 22 to August 30. The Senator will be visiting 13 sites with active or proposed data centers across New York State to hear the concerns from impacted communities and advocate for Governor Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act (S10642 GONZALEZ/A11560 BARRETT), which codifies requirements around public participation and transparency, renewable energy use, labor standards, and public benefits. The legislation also creates separate water and energy rate classes for data centers in an effort to protect ratepayers from increased costs.
Local advocates were invited to speak at this press conference. Hear Gay Nicholson (starting at 21:15), President of Sustainable Finger Lakes, discuss how the data center bill serves as necessary protection against harmful noise pollution and impact on regional utility bills.
