We need Governor Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act!
When both houses of the NYS Legislature passed the Responsible Data Center Development Act on June 4, 2026, it was with a clear commitment to delivering tangible relief to already struggling utility ratepayers, offering meaningful host community involvement, ensuring strong labor protections, and leading the way in regulating the proliferation of data centers. Since our bill passed, we have heard overwhelmingly from New Yorkers across the state – and across the aisle – that they are seriously worried about data centers and the impact they will have on electricity costs, the power grid, and our natural resources.
In July, Governor Hochul stepped up and signed Executive Order 62, establishing the first-in-the-nation moratorium on new data centers, a critical component of the Responsible Data Center Development Act. It was a nation-leading and important first step in ensuring that data center development occurs responsibly and thoughtfully without burdening struggling ratepayers, compromising grid reliability or contradicting our climate goals. But it left out many critical issues addressed in the Responsible Data Center Development Act.
We need Governor Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act!
Since then other states – including New Jersey and California – have passed and enacted legislation mandating separate utility rate classes, requiring clean energy procurement, and making data centers pay for grid upgrades and water supply improvements needed to serve them. New York hasn’t done any of this yet, and we can’t afford to wait for prolonged proceedings to determine how to regulate data centers.
We need Governor Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act!
The Responsible Data Center Development Act provides something that an executive order cannot, and that is permanence. By enshrining these protections in statute, the Legislature can provide certainty – for communities, utilities, workforce, businesses and investors. Executive Orders and regulations can easily be modified or rescinded by future administrations. Given the scale and long-term impacts of data center development, New York’s regulation of data centers should be grounded in law.
We need Governor Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act!
The call for action is clear and growing louder. Rural and urban communities – upstate and downstate – are speaking out. Some 60 legislators recently signed a letter urging the Governor to take action. Communities and organizations across the state are asking for long term protections they can count on. New Yorkers deserve a data center development framework that protects ratepayers, safeguards our natural resources, supports good-paying jobs, and gives communities meaningful, guaranteed host community benefits and a real voice through required public participation.
We still need Governor Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act!
Assemblymember Didi Barrett
Senator Kristen Gonzalez
