State and Town Moratoriums Halt Proposed Yaphank Data Center

A proposed $1 billion data center in Yaphank, New York, developed by WF Industrial, also known as Wildflower, is facing a standstill due to two concurrent moratoriums. New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued an executive order on July 14, enacting a statewide freeze on permits for large-scale data centers, defined as those consuming 50 megawatts or more, for up to one year. This order aims to establish a new regulatory framework to protect ratepayers, the power grid, and local communities. Simultaneously, the Brookhaven Town Board is expected to approve an 18-month moratorium on data center permits, with a unanimous vote anticipated.

The Wildflower project, planned for a 549,000-square-foot facility on 71 acres near a residential area, has been touted to create 1,000 construction jobs and full-time positions, along with significant revenue for the local school district. Michael Bowden, Wildflower's director of development, stated the company is reviewing the governor's order and its implications, while asserting the proposed center would not exceed the water consumption of previously approved trucking warehouses for the site, aided by rooftop rainwater harvesting.

Community and political reactions are mixed. The Long Island Progressive Coalition has publicly opposed the project, and a Siena Institute Research poll indicated that half of Long Islanders favor slowing data center development. Former President Trump condemned the state moratorium on social media, calling it a "terrible decision," a sentiment echoed by New York City Council Minority Leader David Carr. Conversely, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, who chairs the Senate Internet and Technology Committee, praised the executive order as a necessary measure to address strain on the power grid. A companion bill from the state Legislature is also awaiting the governor's signature.