New York Lawmakers Send Hochul One-Year Ban on New Data Centers
New York lawmakers have advanced a measure to Gov. Kathy Hochul that would impose a one-year moratorium on new data center permits requiring at least 20 megawatts of energy. The move is a response to voter concerns over potential utility spikes. Gov. Hochul is currently weighing the measure.
New York lawmakers have approved a "responsible data center development" measure, sending it to Gov. Kathy Hochul for consideration. The legislation includes a one-year moratorium on new permitting for data centers that require at least 20 megawatts of energy.
The Democratic-led legislature rapidly coalesced around the measure, citing significant voter concerns over the potential for utility spikes caused by the energy-intensive facilities. If enacted, New York would be the first state to implement such a pause on new data center construction.
While Gov. Hochul, a Democrat, has not explicitly endorsed a moratorium, she stated last week that she is actively weighing the measure's implications and will make a decision. The bill's progression highlights growing state-level scrutiny of data center energy consumption.