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<span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><span><span><b>The Institute for Ethics in Public Life invites you to join us for </b></span></span><b>"The Backlash Against AI Data Centers"</b><span><span><b> on Wednesday, September 30, at 3:30pm (in person and on Zoom) with special guest NYS Assemblymember Michael Cashman '03 M.S. '06.</b></span></span></span></span><div><div style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;font-size:small" class="gmail_default"><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><span><span><b> </b></span></span><br></span></span><div style="margin-left:40px"><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><span><span>Public opposition to AI data centers<b> </b>is a rare bipartisan issue, with <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/09/22/americans-views-of-data-centers-have-turned-more-negative/&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1790782388753171&usg=AOvVaw2HUwcPUQl2TpwaEIJbmaAt" target="_blank">recent Pew polling</a> showing that majorities of both Republicans and Democrats opposed to new data center construction near their homes. Opposition to data centers tends to be based on their environmental impact (water usage and noise pollution in particular), impact on residential electricity rates, and reducing the quality of life of nearby residents. </span></span></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><span><span><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.economist.com/business/2026/06/23/americas-data-centre-backlash-puts-the-ai-boom-at-risk?giftId%3DYWI4ZTlhOTYtZTg4YS00NjQ2LWFkYjYtOWI1ZDRjZWMyYWY0%26utm_campaign%3Dgifted_article&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1790782388753171&usg=AOvVaw2jyWoBGV4BoNJSfHuxuxN1" target="_blank">On the other side</a>, AI firms argue that massive investment in data centers is necessary if we are to stay ahead of China in the AI race and tout the potential for AI to speed up scientific advances and usher in a new age of prosperity. Proponents also argue that data centers provide good jobs and tax revenue to local communities, and <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/09/03/the-moral-panic-over-data-centres-is-foolish?giftId%3DNjQ4YWI0ZGEtNWMyZS00NjBiLWE4Y2EtZDNhZDY0NjJiYWQ2%26utm_campaign%3Dgifted_article&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1790782388753171&usg=AOvVaw1Q-QP7qSa13Sa4G_f6lNAC" target="_blank">that the fresh water usage and impact on electricity rates are both minor</a>.</span></span></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><span><span>In New York, Governor Hochul signed an executive order that imposed the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/first-statewide-moratorium-new-hyperscale-data-centers-launched-governor-kathy-hochul&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1790782388753171&usg=AOvVaw1KwP0ntzstJn8KO8IyB9c_" target="_blank">first statewide moratorium on construction of new hyperscale data centers</a>. This is in effect for up to a year, to allow the state to develop new environmental and energy standards for data centers and repeal a state tax exemption. The state legislature has also acted on this issue, with the Assembly and Senate passing <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A11560&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1790782388753171&usg=AOvVaw3-FO0L0flKEyJrxfW-DPvZ" target="_blank">A11560</a> (the Governor has yet to sign the bill), which will impose a one-year moratorium on issuance of permits for new data center construction and require measures to mitigate the potential negative impact on electrical rates and local communities. </span></span></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>To help us understand this complex issue, we welcome Assemblymember Michael Cashman, our representative in the Assembly and one of the co-sponsors of A11560, to the Institute. </span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><span><span><b>Michael S. Cashman</b> '03 M.S. '06  has represented the 115th District in the NY State Assembly since November, 2025. Prior to his election to the Assembly, he served as the Town Supervisor of the Town of Plattsburgh for nearly a decade. </span></span><span>In the Assembly, Cashman is focused on housing, accessible healthcare, quality education, infrastructure investment, reliable broadband and cell service, economic opportunity for farmers and small businesses, public safety, and long-term planning that delivers for the people of the North Country. </span></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>A first-generation college graduate and two-time SUNY Plattsburgh alumnus. Cashman has been an active leader in higher education and national service. He serves on the SUNY Plattsburgh University Council and, in 2024, received the National TRIO Achiever Award from the Council for Opportunity in Education for his advocacy on behalf of first-generation and low-income students. Beyond local government, he has served as Chair of the New York State Commission on National and Community Service, helping advance volunteerism and strengthen AmeriCorps programs across the state.</span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Please join us in person in the Thomas Moran Seminar Room of the Institute for Ethics in Public Life (Hawkins 233) or on Zoom (see below). </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span><span><span><b> </b></span></span></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><span><span><b> </b></span></span></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>Topic: The Backlash Against AI Data Centers</span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>Time: Sep 30, 2026 03:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)</span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>Join Zoom Meeting</span></span><br></div><div style="margin-left:40px"><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span></span></span></div><div style="margin-left:40px"><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://plattsburgh.zoom.us/j/84916518219&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1790782388753171&usg=AOvVaw1wu3DoDM5LbMxXdTGKUnG2" target="_blank">https://plattsburgh.zoom.us/j/84916518219</a></span></span>

</div></div><br clear="all"></div><div style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;font-size:small" class="gmail_default"><font size="2"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;font-size:small"><b>Upcoming events are posted on the Institute's public calendar, which you can follow <a href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=Y19sa245c3MxcjdscjExdmM0ZzNtMDlyaDUyb0Bncm91cC5jYWxlbmRhci5nb29nbGUuY29t">here</a>.</b></span></font></div>

</div><br clear="all"></div><br><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Arial"><b><font size="2">Daniel Lake</font></b></p><p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Arial"><font size="2">(pronouns: he/him/his)<br></font></p><p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Arial"><font size="2">Professor of Political Science</font></p><p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Arial"><font size="2">Director, Institute for Ethics in Public Life<br></font></p><p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Arial"><font size="2">Hawkins 149A</font></p><p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Arial"><font size="2"><a href="https://maps.google.com/?q=101+Broad+Street+Plattsburgh,+NY+12901&entry=gmail&source=g" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">101 Broad Street</a></font></p><p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Arial"><font size="2"><a href="https://maps.google.com/?q=101+Broad+Street+Plattsburgh,+NY+12901&entry=gmail&source=g" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">Plattsburgh, NY 12901</a></font></p><p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Arial"><font size="2">(o) <a href="tel:(518)%5645833" value="+15185642217" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">518-564-5833</a></font></p><p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Arial"><b><font size="2"><a href="http://plattsburgh.edu/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">plattsburgh.edu</a></font></b><br></p></div><div dir="ltr"><img src="https://web.plattsburgh.edu/files/914/images/SUNY-Plattsburgh-Email-Logo-2018.jpg"><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>