Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - State lawmakers passed a one-year moratorium on data center construction just before the end of session late last week, but the discourse over the controversial projects hasn't stopped.
The moratorium has earned some applause, but also pushback, mainly from Republicans and business leaders.
"Nothing is going to happen in a year," State Senate Minority leader Rob Ortt told WBEN on Monday. "You know what's going to happen in a year? Next year won't be an election year."
Ortt says the framing of the conversation around data centers is faulty, that there doesn't have to be a tradeoff between data center construction and high energy costs.
"We do not have the electric capacity or the energy generating capacity in this state to meet the demands currently," Ortt said. "A data center or any high energy user is going to draw, maybe disproportionately, on that grid. Then you're told, or homeowners are told that you have to choose between economic development or powering your home. That's a false choice."
"That's a choice that other states don't have to make. They can do both."
The moratorium has earned some applause, but also pushback
The moratorium has earned some applause, but also pushback
