BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN)....It has been two weeks since state lawmakers, reacting to heavy citizens pushback across New York, voted to place a one-year moratorium on the development of data centers.
Many assumed that Gov. Kathy Hochul would, almost instantly, sign the moratorium.
But, that hasn't happened.
And, Hochul, in Buffalo on June 12 and asked by myself, said the bill is one of more than 750 she has to signed, or decline, by Dec. 31.
"Some have very definite timelines," Hochul said.
Hochul said in her "State of the State" address, she would prefer that data center developments provide their own water and power instead of relying public sources.
This is a complicated one, Hochul said.
"We've been looking at this for quite some time," Hochul said.
Buffa lo Assemblyman Jon Rivera, a Democrat, thinks Hochul will, ultimately, sign the bill.
It is, Rivera said, more of a question of when, not if.
"When 200 people show up at a planning board meeting and raise questions, that says something about where the public's head is at," Rivera said.
The Assemblyman was referring to a recent Town of Tonawanda Planning Board meeting where residents were questioning a proposed data center on the former Tonawanda Coke site along River Road.
That project has been paused by the development team, pending further environmental reviews.
The issue of data center development is a hot topic not only in New York, but across the country.
At issue are how data centers may drawn local water and power supplies while also creating noise issues.
Supporters say data centers are generally developed on brownfield or industrial sites and away from neighborhoods. The centers, because of the cost involved to build them, do create a new influx of property and school tax dollars for communities.
Niagara Falls Assemblyman Angelo Morinello, a Republican, said he hopes Hochul does not sign the moratorium bill and sends it back to state lawmakers for more refinement.
Morinello thinks if Hochul does sign the moratorium bill, it probbably won't happen until after the November general election
. Hochul is running for re-election and the data center issue has been one of this year's talking points.
"But, it is tough to read the tea leaves," Morinello said.
Many think Hochul will, eventually, sign the moratorium bill
Many think Hochul will, eventually, sign the moratorium bill
