New York puts statewide ban on data centers
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed an executive order enacting a one-year statewide moratorium on the construction of large data centers. The state plans to use this period to establish guardrails and standards to address concerns like energy grid strain, land disruption, noise pollution, and natural resource protection. This marks the country's first statewide ban of its kind on data center development.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has enacted a first-of-its-kind statewide moratorium on the construction of all large data centers for one year. The executive order, signed this week, aims to give state officials time to draft comprehensive standards and 'guardrails' for data center development.
Governor Hochul stated that the pause will allow New York to establish a robust framework to protect communities, reduce risks to the energy grid, minimize land disruption and noise pollution, and safeguard natural resources. She also indicated that the state might consider requiring developers to contribute to the cost of energy grid upgrades.