New York to enact nation’s first statewide moratorium on data centers

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York is set to sign an executive order today placing a one-year pause on the construction of the largest data centers, putting the state at the forefront of the national debate over artificial intelligence companies’ impact on American landscapes and energy grids.

The order, the first of its kind to be enacted in the United States, will temporarily bar the state from approving permits for so-called hyperscale data centers, which use 50 or more megawatts of power to operate. During the pause, New York will develop a regulatory framework for assessing how these behemoth projects affect the environment.

A farther-reaching moratorium passed the State Legislature last month, prompting questions about whether Hochul, who has championed artificial intelligence as a tool for research and good governance, would be supportive. Hochul has not yet signed the bill, but said she will continue to consider it.

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