Rockland County legislators, state lawmakers, environmental advocates and local residents gathered Thursday at the Pearl River Little League fields to call on Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act, legislation that would place a one-year moratorium on new hyperscale data centers while New York studies their long-term impact on the state’s electric grid, water resources, environment and local communities.
The rally came just days after the Rockland County Legislature became the first county in New York to adopt a resolution supporting the bill, which passed both houses of the State Legislature in June. If signed into law, the legislation would also halt the proposed expansion of the DataBank facility in Orangeburg during the one-year review period. Orangeburg is already home to four data centers.
Rockland County Legislator Dr. Dana G. Stilley, who sponsored the county resolution, said the legislation would allow the state to fully evaluate the effects of large-scale data centers before additional projects move forward.
“As one of Orangetown’s proud county legislators, I stand with my constituents in calling on Governor Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act,” Stilley said. “Before approving additional large-scale data center projects, we have a responsibility to fully understand their impacts on our electric grid, water supply, environment and taxpayers.”
County Legislature Environmental Committee Chair Beth Davidson said the Governor’s recent executive order addressing certain large-scale data center projects would not affect the proposed Orangeburg expansion. She argued that the legislation would provide broader statewide protections by allowing a comprehensive review of the cumulative impacts of data center development.
County Legislator Jesse Malowitz noted that the issue extends beyond Orangetown, saying communities across New York have a stake in maintaining reliable infrastructure and affordable electricity.
Assemblyman Patrick Carroll, a co-sponsor of the legislation, said the bill would not only establish a one-year moratorium but also create a separate utility classification for data centers and require additional study before further expansion.
“While Governor Hochul recently signed an executive order to hold data centers accountable, it does not go as far as our legislation,” Carroll said.
Assemblyman Aron Wieder also voiced support for the measure, emphasizing that the proposal is intended to balance technological growth with responsible planning.
“Every vote we cast shapes the future of New York,” Wieder said. “That’s why I voted in favor of the data center moratorium, to make sure innovation moves forward with responsibility, not just speed.”
Wieder added that the legislation is not intended to stop technological advancement or economic development, but rather to ensure the state fully understands the long-term effects of large-scale data centers on New York’s energy grid, environment and local communities before approving additional projects.
State Senate candidate Joe Rand also joined Wieder, Carroll and county legislators Davidson, Malowitz and Stilley in urging the Governor to sign the bill, arguing that the rapid growth of energy-intensive data centers could place additional strain on the electric grid and contribute to higher utility costs for residents.
Environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club’s Lower Hudson Group and Food & Water Watch, also participated in the event, calling for stronger statewide oversight of future data center development and raising concerns about electricity demand, water usage, environmental impacts and potential increases in utility costs.
Supporters of the Responsible Data Center Development Act say the one-year pause would give New York time to study the industry’s long-term impacts while ensuring future growth is planned responsibly and does not come at the expense of residents, taxpayers or critical infrastructure.
