TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WBEN)....Given all the questions - and, not a lot of answers - the decision by state lawmakers to pause the development of large scale, AI-driven data center projects for the next year makes a lot of sense, says State Sen. Jeremy Zellner.
Zellner, Friday afternoon, said he voted for the one-year moratorium that his fellow state lawmakers backed late Thursday.
Actually, Zellner said he would have preferred a three-year moratorium, given all the questions.
At issue is the long term environmental impact, especially on power and water supplies.
Environmental issues have been a major talking point with proposed large scale data centers in such places as the Town of Tonawanda and in the Genesee County Town of Alabama - along with other places across New York state.
"Projects of this scale need a closer look," Zellner said.
The proposed Town of Tonawanda data center, planned for the former Tonawanda Coke plant site on River Road, could see a 300mw, nearly 500,000-square-foot complex developed.
In Tonawanda's case, the development paused its own project pending more environmental reviews.
"They are being more responsible than most," Zellner said.
Data center development and its environmental impact isn't just a New York issue. Several other states are wrestling with the same issue.
"We are putting up some guard rails," Zellner said. "We've got to have more answers."
The moratorium needs an official sign off from Gov. Kathy Hochul.
One year moratorium to review data center environmental implications
One year moratorium to review data center environmental implications
