New York leaders want the Empire State at the center of the artificial intelligence revolution — and a recent Brookings Institute report says it is well-positioned to do just that. But while other states build the energy backbone for the AI economy, the state’s climate law is pushing investment elsewhere.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Gov. Kathy Hochul rightfully touts New York’s “Empire AI” initiative, which Brookings cites as a model for other states. Yet the irony is clear: state energy policies undercut the very data centers needed to make that vision real. AI doesn’t run on good intentions. It runs on affordable, reliable electricity. Under Albany’s sweeping Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, fossil-fueled generation is phased out. As a result, prices are up, and reliability margins have thinned.

Put simply, while the governor and NYSERDA have acknowledged that certain mandates under the state’s climate law will not be achieved on time, the Public Service Commission is still legally bound to comply with it. Until these competing........

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