AI’s place in data center controversy across New York
AI’s place in data center controversy across New York
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/rochester/news/2026/05/18/ai-drive-for-data-centers
Publish Date: 2026-05-18 17:55:00
Source Domain: spectrumlocalnews.com
Conversations are continuing across the state on whether or not data centers are meant to fuel New York’s infrastructure. As artificial intelligence becomes more common in today’s society, controversy builds around the benefits of data centers.
The International Business Machines Corporation describes data centers as the backbone of the internet. It explains the facilities role as storing thousands of networks, data and power. Town of Oneonta Supervisor Will Rivera describes the facilities as false hope.
“Data centers come here with the promises of economic growth, and jobs, and all the studies that we’re seeing in actual communities that have had these, that’s not what happens,” Rivera claims.
What You Need To Know
- The Town of Oneonta voted in favor for a 12-month moratorium to suspect data center developments
- The facilities are nown to store thousands of networks
- Those opposed to their developments say there are environmental consequences, no permanent jobs and potential health risks down the road
- AI experts say data centers are crucial in today’s society
“A data center essentially is a large building filled with all these servers that, most of the time, typically, are unmanned,” Rivera said. “Or they may have one person. It’s just a big space or facility with all these servers running 24/7 that need to be cooled. All the data shows that these literally bring little to no jobs beyond the temporary, issues of creating the actual facility, and if we’re going to invest in economic developments, let’s invest in small businesses. Let’s invest in our healthcare. Let’s invest in longstanding jobs that will bring in housing, tourism and growth.”
Rochester Institute of Technology’s professor and AI expert Ke Xu says that is not the case.
“I understand there are different concerns about building a huge data center, but I think, on the flip side, some of the things to be considered is the number of jobs that can be created by having a data…
