Albany, New York — New York will pause approvals for new large data centers for up to one year while state officials develop rules addressing their impact on energy use, water demand, and the environment.
Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to sign an executive order Tuesday imposing what her office described as the country’s first statewide moratorium on hyperscale data centers. These facilities power artificial intelligence systems and cloud computing by housing thousands of computer servers that require large amounts of electricity and cooling.
Hochul said the state must act because data center development could raise utility bills, strain natural resources, and create uncertainty for residents. The order will pause state permitting and direct regulators to create standards for future projects.
Supporters of data center development argue that moratoriums can cost communities jobs and weaken the U.S. position in the global AI race. Hochul’s Republican opponent, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, opposes a statewide pause and says local governments should decide whether projects offer enough economic benefit.
New York lawmakers approved a separate moratorium bill this year, but Hochul is moving through executive order instead. Similar statewide proposals have surfaced elsewhere, including Maine, though none has taken effect.
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