On July 16, 2026, Governor Kathy Hochul spoke with NewsChannel9 WSYR host Andrew Donovan about the state’s new pause on approving hyperscale data centers while agencies develop a uniform review framework, according to an Office of the Governor rush transcript.
Hochul said state agencies — “probably five or six right now” — are being assigned to create a framework localities can use so municipalities don’t have to hire outside counsel or negotiate unfamiliar deals. She said the state will require community benefits and avoid additional tax breaks for facilities that do not produce substantial local employment.
Explaining the policy choice, Hochul contrasted large semiconductor projects such as Micron’s Syracuse campus with hyperscale data centers, saying Micron generates long-term, high-paying jobs and sustained construction activity while data centers require large amounts of power but employ relatively few people. “I’d rather devote that power to a Micron creating jobs than these other large facilities that do not,” she said.
The governor said the pause is intended to give the state time to ensure communities receive substantial benefits and are not burdened with higher utility costs because of new data centers. She also said the pause is temporary: as the state expands generation capacity — including planned nuclear projects — it could become more receptive to such facilities once resource needs are met.
Hochul briefly addressed Oswego County as a potential site for nuclear expansion, saying the county’s workforce and available land make it a contender but offering no timeline or decision.
The Governor’s Office released an audio file and a rush transcript of the WSYR interview; the transcript was provided by the Governor’s press office.
