As artificial intelligence expands across New York, a growing fight is breaking out over whether massive data centers will help communities or strain them, according to Spectrum News.
Leaders in Oneonta recently approved a one-year moratorium on new data center development, arguing the facilities consume huge amounts of energy while creating few long-term jobs. Critics also raised concerns about environmental impacts, rising infrastructure costs, and pressure on local power grids.
Supporters say the state risks falling behind in tech and AI development if it blocks new projects. Rochester Institute of Technology professor Ke Xu said growing AI demand makes more data centers inevitable and argued the industry could create permanent technical, construction, cybersecurity, and operations jobs across New York.
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