New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has thrown a wrench into the state's efforts to increase transparency around massive artificial intelligence data centers, vetoing legislation that would require them to disclose their water and electricity use.
Murphy's conditional veto means the bill will not be finalized without significant changes. The governor wants lawmakers to make several key modifications, including directing regulators to assess whether data centers are unfairly burdening other ratepayers with their power and cooling demands.
The original bill required data center operators to report their utility use within six months of its signing. However, Murphy's conditional veto would extend that timeline until January 2027, sparking concerns from lawmakers that this delay will undermine transparency and make it difficult for regulators to respond effectively.
Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, a Democrat, expressed frustration with the proposal, stating that delaying action will lead to "irreversible impacts" and weaken the state's ability to address the issue. She vowed to continue fighting for transparency in the 2026 legislative session.
Murphy's veto also seeks to bar the release of information about data centers' utility use under public records laws, except for anonymized information disclosed in a report on their energy consumption. This move has raised concerns that the state is prioritizing industry interests over public access to critical information.
The issue highlights the growing importance of artificial intelligence data centers in New Jersey's economy and the need for policymakers to strike a balance between promoting growth and ensuring transparency and accountability. As the governor-elect takes office next year, Ruiz signaled that this issue will remain a top priority, despite the delay imposed by Murphy's conditional veto.
Murphy's conditional veto means the bill will not be finalized without significant changes. The governor wants lawmakers to make several key modifications, including directing regulators to assess whether data centers are unfairly burdening other ratepayers with their power and cooling demands.
The original bill required data center operators to report their utility use within six months of its signing. However, Murphy's conditional veto would extend that timeline until January 2027, sparking concerns from lawmakers that this delay will undermine transparency and make it difficult for regulators to respond effectively.
Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, a Democrat, expressed frustration with the proposal, stating that delaying action will lead to "irreversible impacts" and weaken the state's ability to address the issue. She vowed to continue fighting for transparency in the 2026 legislative session.
Murphy's veto also seeks to bar the release of information about data centers' utility use under public records laws, except for anonymized information disclosed in a report on their energy consumption. This move has raised concerns that the state is prioritizing industry interests over public access to critical information.
The issue highlights the growing importance of artificial intelligence data centers in New Jersey's economy and the need for policymakers to strike a balance between promoting growth and ensuring transparency and accountability. As the governor-elect takes office next year, Ruiz signaled that this issue will remain a top priority, despite the delay imposed by Murphy's conditional veto.
. I mean, who doesn't want to know how much energy these massive AI data centers are sipping? It's like, what's the harm in being transparent about it? 
I can see why Senate Majority Leader Ruiz is upset - delaying transparency and accountability is not gonna help anything. And barcing out info from public records laws? That's just shady 
. I'm all for striking a balance between growth and oversight, but this feels like the data centers are getting a free pass 
. As Ruiz said, this delay could lead to irreversible impacts... let's hope next year's governor-elect comes in with some fresh ideas 
and prioritizes transparency, or we might be stuck in the dark ages 
.
. Governor Murphy thinks delaying transparency is okay though? It's like he's saying "oh, don't worry about knowing how much power these giant AI hubs suck" 
. And now lawmakers have to go back and fix it... meanwhile, the issue gets even more complicated 
. The thing is, data centers are huge energy consumers, so someone gotta know how much they're using. It's not like it's going to hurt anyone if we just make them spill their guts every six months 
. Murphy wants regulators to look into if other ratepayers are getting screwed, but that's kinda the point - these massive AI centers are already taking up a ton of resources 
. Can't wait to see what happens next... probably more delays and less transparency 
.
I mean, they're supposed to be driving growth and innovation, but at what cost? The fact that Phil Murphy is trying to block transparency around their water and electricity use just doesn't sit right with me 
. The original bill would have been a huge step forward, but now it looks like that's being taken away from us 
.
. As someone who cares deeply about our community, I think we need to make sure that we're representing everyone's voice, not just the one of the big corporations 
. This is a huge issue and it needs to be taken seriously 
and btw they accounted for like 15% of the state's total energy consumption! 
meanwhile murphy's conditional veto is giving me all sorts of anxiety about when we'll actually know how much power these data centers are using... 
and it's not like they're gonna magically start reporting their utility use or anything 
anyway did u hear that NJ data centers are now worth like $15 BILLION 
. I'm rooting for Ruiz to keep pushing for transparency next year 
!
. i think it's time for our governor-elect to get on board with making some real changes ASAP 
The need for transparency around massive AI data centers is crucial, especially considering their significant impact on our state's energy consumption and infrastructure. 
. I'd rather see policymakers take a more proactive stance on this issue, even if it means finding compromises that balance growth with transparency 
I'm also kinda cool with Murphy trying to tweak the bill to make sure industry interests are taken into account. It's all about finding that balance between growth and transparency, right? 
Another one bites the dust! Can you believe NJ Governor Phil Murphy is prioritizing industry interests over public access to info about massive AI data centers? 
. It's not about being "burdensome" on other ratepayers, it's about transparency and accountability 
! I mean, I get it, he's trying to protect the industry and all, but come on, transparency is key here 
. Can we please just get some clear answers about these data centers' impact on our environment and rates? 
.
. It's like, can't we just agree on some basic principles of transparency and accountability? 
.