N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul to make data centers pay for own energy demand

Driving the news: The new Energize NY Development initiative is meant to make it faster and more predictable for companies to connect to the grid while imposing conditions to protect ratepayers.

• The initiative will explicitly require "that projects driving exceptional demand without exceptional job creation or other benefits cover the costs they create – through charges or supplying their own power," per a release.
• Hochul will make the announcement during her state of the state address on Tuesday.

What they're saying: "While New York continues to lead in attracting new technologies, we must grow responsibly, ensuring affordability comes first and those profiting from data growth pay their fair share," Hochul said in a statement.

The bottom line: Affordability is emerging as a winning issue for Democrats in New York and nationwide, with AI–driven spikes in utility bills front and center.