Daily Digest — July 17, 2026
New York Enacts Statewide Data Center Freeze; Legislature Pushes Broader Bill
Governor Kathy Hochul's executive order pausing new hyperscale data center approvals across New York took effect this week. State Senator Christopher Ryan voiced support for the freeze, emphasizing the need to strengthen energy infrastructure and protect ratepayers from bearing the costs of data center energy and water demands, according to WSTM. The statewide moratorium supersedes local pauses already adopted by several Central New York towns, including:
- Manlius (one-year moratorium, approved July)
- Clay (moratorium implemented June)
- Lysander (six-month moratorium, approved May, following concerns about a proposed 300 MW facility from Renalli Super DC)
However, critics argue the executive order does not go far enough. As reported by the Rome Sentinel, both houses of the New York State Legislature have passed the "Responsible Data Center Development Act," which proposes a one-year moratorium on permits, requires utilities to create a separate service classification for large data centers, sets energy efficiency goals, and mandates environmental impact reviews. The bill also includes labor standards for projects over 5 MW, requiring prevailing wages, apprenticeship programs, and U.S.-made iron or steel. Eric Wood of the New York Public Interest Research Group urged the governor to sign the legislation, calling the executive order insufficient.
FOX 10 Phoenix reported that 14 other states have introduced bills to limit data center construction, though none have passed into law. A March Gallup poll cited in the report found seven out of ten Americans oppose new data center construction in their areas. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright characterized moratoriums as an overreaction.
Separately, Bradley Tusk of Tusk Ventures argued on CNBC Television that the backlash is "solvable" if data centers internalize energy and water costs, develop behind-the-meter power sources, and act as better community partners. He cited rising electricity prices in Northern Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Georgia as drivers of public opposition.
State Sen. Ryan backs Hochul's data center freeze, says New York needs to get this right
WSTM
New York Governor's Executive Order on Data Centers Criticized as Insufficient Amid Legislative Action
Rome Sentinel
AI data center construction faces nationwide pushback | FOX 10 Phoenix
FOX 10 Phoenix
Data center backlash is a very solvable problem, says Tusk Ventures' Bradley Tusk
CNBC Television
Boulder City Votes to Appeal Federal Approval of Data Center on BLM Land
Boulder City, Nevada's council voted unanimously to appeal the Bureau of Land Management's approval of the Townsite Solar 2 data center project, developed by Houston-based Skylar Capital Management. According to the Boulder City Review, city officials argue the BLM failed to follow proper procedures, did not consult the city, and improperly relied on an environmental review originally prepared for a solar farm.
The city attorney has been authorized to file both a notice of appeal and a petition to stay construction, as reported by Nevada Public Radio. The developer had initially sought local approval, which the Boulder City Planning Commission recommended rejecting due to resident opposition, before moving to BLM-owned land.
Adding urgency to the dispute, FOX5 Las Vegas reported that a new Bureau of Reclamation projection shows Lake Mead could reach an all-time low this summer, potentially reducing Hoover Dam electricity output by up to 40% by next summer. Councilman Steve Walton stated, "We are in a water catastrophe right now." The council expressed concern that Boulder City could become financially responsible for supporting the data center's infrastructure. Discussions about implementing a local moratorium on data center development are also underway.
Montgomery County Developer Challenges Data Center Moratorium; Council Weighs Expanded Restrictions
Atmosphere Data Centers has filed an appeal against Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich's six-month moratorium on data center permit reviews, according to Bethesda Magazine. The California-based developer, planning a data center campus in Dickerson, Maryland, argues that the county's Department of Permitting Services misinterpreted the executive order and that the order itself is unlawful because legislative authority rests with the County Council.
The executive order, signed June 12, bars the permitting department from accepting or processing new data center applications. As reported by the Baltimore Banner, Elrich stated the moratorium is not intended to block data centers but to ensure proper development addressing water usage, pollution, and energy bill concerns.
The County Council is simultaneously advancing its own legislative proposals:
- A six-month moratorium bill introduced by Councilmember Evan Glass
- A two-year moratorium bill introduced by Councilmember Will Jawando
- A zoning text amendment under review, with plans for an overriding amendment to define and prohibit "hyperscale" data centers countywide, sponsored by Council President Natali Fani-González and others
Councilmembers have indicated a preference for a council-enacted moratorium to ensure stronger legal standing.
