State Sen. Monica R. Martinez participated in a roundtable of elected officials, business, environmental and issue advocacy leaders from Long Island this week that focused on local concerns about data center development in New York.  The event was organized by Gov. Kathy Hochul who earlier this month placed a one-year moratorium on new hyperscale data centers within the state.

The governor’s executive order temporarily pauses state environmental permits for up to one year in order to develop a regulatory framework that protects ratepayers, the environment, the energy grid and communities as data technology companies look to develop or expand their footprint in New York.  

Communities throughout the nation are grappling with where and how large-scale data centers should be built as demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing continues to grow.  While supporters point to the promise of new investment, increased tax revenue and economic development, residents and local officials are growing increasingly concerned about rising energy demand, significant water consumption, impacts on the electric grid, land use, noise, environmental sustainability and the potential for higher utility costs.

“Artificial intelligence and data centers run on the same limited natural resources we all depend on for daily life,” said Sen. Martinez.  “Allowing these energy- and water-intensive facilities to remain unchecked will likely drive-up costs for residents and threaten quality of life across New York, especially here on Long Island.  I thank Gov. Hochul for instituting this one-year pause on new data center development while New York determines how best to prepare for and integrate these technologies to meet the needs of our state.” 

In addition to Gov. Hochul and Sen. Martinez, the forum also included:

• NYS Assemblymember Kwani B. O’Pharrow 
• Mayor Steven Weinberg, Village of Thomaston 
• Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, Babylon 
• Bob Deluca, President, Group for the East End 
• Dan Lloyd, Founder & President, Minority Millennials 
• Kevin McDonald, Senior Policy Advisor, The Nature Conservancy 
• Rosemary Menendez, Volunteer, AARP 
• Brendan Warner, Chair, Long Island Water Conference 
• Bill Zalakar, Executive Director Long Island Farm Bureau 

Sen. Martinez, who is chairwoman of the Senate’s Local Government Committee, has been working with municipal leaders throughout the state on economic development issues, including those related to emerging technologies.  As the demand for computing infrastructure accelerates, Sen. Martinez remains committed to working with local officials on policy solutions that protect municipalities, residents and our natural resources.