Governor Hochul: Stop the Rush to Build Data Centers!

In July, we scored a major victory when Governor Hochul issued an executive order establishing a moratorium on new data centers in New York.

Unfortunately, Hochul is rushing the process to assess the risks of data centers, with a shoddy analysis that would end the moratorium.

The Hochul administration’s proposed review ignores many of the costly and dangerous impacts of data centers on our health, communities, and environment. It also excludes the possibility of blocking data centers.

The new deadline for public comments on the scope of the review is November 4. Make sure they hear from you.

Tell Governor Hochul and the Public Service Commission: Stop the rush to build data centers!

Your Message

Governor

Kathy

Hochul

New York

Secretary to the PSC

Michelle

Phillips

New York Public Service Commission

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This comment is in regards to Case 26-E-0045. I urge you to stop the rush to build data centers in New York and broaden the scope of the state’s environmental review, which is necessary to address all of the potential impacts of data center development.

The moratorium is due to expire when New York State’s review of the potential harms of data centers is complete. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that the scope of the state’s review be as broad as possible to fully encompass every potential harm of data centers. Any issues left out of the scope, or addressed only vaguely, may not be fully examined before the pause ends.

I am concerned that you are rushing to lift the moratorium, but the environmental review must be comprehensive. Throughout the draft document, the term “may” is used rather than “shall”, making much of the analysis seemingly optional and easy to skirt, or rush through.

The draft scope names many broad topics, but it’s essential for the scope to be specific and include threats like like PFAS forever chemicals in the water, the threat to Environmental Justice neighborhoods who’ve endured disproportionate levels of pollution in the past, the harms to sovereign Indigenous Nations, the polluting impacts of keeping fracked gas peaker plants online to provide energy to the grid, and the health impacts that noise and light would have on communities.

Most alarmingly, the draft scope excludes the possibility of keeping the moratorium in place, paving the way for a renewed onslaught of data centers in our communities. In recent polling, 63% of New Yorkers said they would oppose a data center being built near them after the moratorium ends. This public outcry must be considered, and the option of keeping the moratorium in place permanently should be on the table in the scoping document.

The onslaught of data centers is the worst affordability and environmental threat facing New York, with known impacts including soaring utility bills, massive amounts of air pollution, dangerous noise levels, and the gobbling up of land.

You must stop the rush to build data centers in New York. Data centers are the biggest environmental and affordability issue facing New York. Your administration must conduct a thorough and comprehensive review of the impacts of data centers. 

I urge you to heed the concerns of New Yorkers who want to keep these costly and dangerous facilities out of their communities!

Sincerely,
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{user_data~City}, {user_data~State} {user_data~Ghost Zip Code}

Sincerely,
[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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