Hochuls data-center ban: Letters to the Editor July 17, 2026

Once again, New York loses out by “pausing” the construction of data centers for one year (“Kathy’s A.I.K.O.,” July 15).It’s really no surprise though, just a string of poor decisions made to appease the overeducated “wokesters” that dominate this state.

Think of all the jobs that we are losing out on.Think of the businesses that will migrate to friendlier states.Bill IslerFloral ParkData centers are money makers and develop jobs, but Gov.

Hochul says she’s banning them because they strain the energy grid.Huh? Then why is she banning gas appliances and gas heat? Gas supply is abundant, electric not so much.

But when have we ever expected Hochul to be rational?Rob FeuersteinStaten IslandPausing state permits for new large data centers for up to one year is a short-sighted response to a real challenge.Huge facilities can strain electric grids, water supplies and local infrastructure, and New York is right to ensure ordinary ratepayers don’t subsidize corporate power use.But the answer is to make developers bear those costs — not to suspend projects indiscriminately and risk the state’s economic and technological future.We do not have an AI crisis.

We have an Albany energy-policy crisis.Todd PittinskyPort JeffersonUnder the governor’s incoherent energy policies, New York has leaned too hard on wind, solar and outdated nuclear plans while keeping rules and mandates that discourage natural-gas plants.The result is a mismatch: Electricity demand is rising, but new dependable supply is not arriving fast enough.Hochul’s temporary ban on critical data centers is nothing more than an attempt to conceal her incompetence and failures to deliver reliable energy for New York.Michael MulhallMoseley, Va.The governor’s shortsighted decision to “study” the impacts of AI data centers for a year before deciding on what New York will do in this space is just another capitulation to the extremists in her party.This decision will just further alienat...