The New York State Legislature just passed the Responsible Data Center Development Act — a one-year moratorium on data center permits that would make New York the first state in the nation to put the brakes on the unchecked expansion of power-hungry AI facilities. All that stands between this bill and law is Governor Kathy Hochul's signature.

She is hesitating.

Hochul has suggested the issue should be left to municipalities — but rural planning boards made up of volunteers are already being steamrolled by billion-dollar tech companies and their legal teams. Local communities from Niagara County to the Finger Lakes to East Fishkill have been fighting these projects largely alone. They have been asking for state-level intervention. This bill is exactly that.

Seven out of ten Americans don't want data centers in their communities. A $77 million state subsidy for one data center near New Jersey created exactly one permanent job. These facilities drain water, spike utility bills, consume enormous amounts of energy, and descend on farmland and rural communities with little warning and less accountability.

The Legislature passed this bill. The people want this bill. Maine's governor vetoed a moratorium in April — New York has a chance to do what Maine would not.

We're calling on Governor Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act immediately and make New York a national leader in protecting communities from unchecked data center expansion.