Maloney asks about AI impact on green economy and energy demands
Maloney asks about AI and tech industry threats to green economy jobs given energy demands expected to double by 2030. Perry notes MOCEJ is coordinating with state entities on data center loads. Jung says NYC's data centers are not at hyperscaler scale, and that 70% of green economy jobs are transitioning trades involving physical work that can't be displaced by AI.
One other question is around the rise of AI and tech industries that may or may not pose a threat to green economy jobs.
The demands on our energy needs are expected to double by 2030, and I'm wondering if you could give us an update on any concerns around the action plan or shifts in the action plan
related to the increase in AI.
Yeah, we share your concern, Chair Maloney, on the environmental impacts of data centers.
MOCEJ is in active coordination with various state entities, including the Public Service Commission, to submit comments around large loads, which incorporates loads from data centers, among other infrastructure projects.
And so we take our direction from a policy perspective from that team.
In terms of data centers within the city, there isn't given real...
estate constraints, data centers at the scale at which hyperscalers are trying to develop.
There are some that support different financial institutions and edge computing at various sites across the city, but they're not at the scale
that would create significant environmental and energy burdens or job displacement impact for local New Yorkers.
We are keeping an active pulse on what AI means for jobs more broadly, including those potentially within the green economy, but given that 70%
of the green economy jobs that we forecast will be realized are transitioning jobs, those are accountants, those in the trades, the nature of green economy work often involves physical work.
Remaking our infrastructure, et cetera.
So we're quite confident that that can't be replaced or displaced wholesale by AI, but we're happy to keep you apprised of any analysis and different insights that we get sharper on in the future as that becomes more of a clarifying focus for us.