By Rebecca C. Lewis

Ahead of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s new moratorium on hyperscale data centers, polling in New York City found likely voters were wary of the energy-intensive projects and favored additional regulations.

Pollster Bradley Honan surveyed 617 likely voters in the five boroughs between June 12 and 17. Results showed that 35% of them supported tighter restrictions on data centers and other artificial intelligence infrastructure. That’s far more than the 24% of respondents who said the state should make it easier to build. However, a plurality of 36% of likely voters polled said they didn’t know or had no opinion – so Hochul may have the chance to get more voters on her side. The governor has been doing the media rounds celebrating the first-in-the-nation order earlier this week.

Despite somewhat split thoughts about restrictions, a slight 52% majority of people polled said the state should not welcome more data centers into the state. The question framed the positives as bringing jobs and tax revenue, and negatives as high water usage and strain on the energy grid.