Trump criticizes New York's data center moratorium
Former President Donald Trump publicly criticized New York Governor Kathy Hochul's newly enacted statewide moratorium on large-scale data center construction. The executive order, signed by Hochul, halts the construction of data centers using 50 or more megawatts of power for up to a year, citing concerns about rising utility bills and the depletion of natural resources due to data center water and power consumption.
Former President Donald Trump publicly slammed New York Governor Kathy Hochul's new data center moratorium, which makes New York the first state in the U.S. to impose such a ban. In a Truth Social post, Trump urged the state to change its policy "IMMEDIATELY," arguing that data centers are significant drivers for jobs and generate substantial revenue for states.
Governor Hochul's executive order, signed Tuesday, enacts a moratorium for up to a year on the construction of large-scale data centers consuming 50 or more megawatts of power. She stated in a press release that the action was necessary due to concerns that data center development could increase utility bills, deplete natural resources, and create uncertainty for New Yorkers. The move comes amid a national debate over the fresh water and power consumption of data centers, especially with surging demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Trump also suggested that data centers should bear the full cost of their water and power consumption, with any surplus benefiting state and local communities. Hochul responded to Trump on X, defending the pause by stating, "We hit pause because the communities powering AI should share in its success. Maybe that's a novel concept in Washington. We call it doing our job."