‘An important first step’: Portland residents express relief after Hochul pauses hyperscale data centers
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul enacted a statewide moratorium on hyperscale data centers, bringing relief to Portland, NY residents who were opposing a local data center project. The executive order pauses state permitting and mandates regulators to establish new standards addressing environmental impacts, energy demand, and water usage.
Governor Kathy Hochul enacted a statewide moratorium on hyperscale data centers in New York, a move that brought immediate relief to residents of Portland, New York. The executive order, signed on Tuesday, imposes the country's first statewide pause on new large data center permits, citing concerns over their massive energy and water demands and potential environmental impacts.
Local residents in the Portland/Brocton area, particularly members of the Grape Belt Community Group led by Matt Susskraut, had been actively opposing a proposed hyperscale data center at the former Sugar Hills Golf Course since April. They had formed the group after the Portland Town Board gave "general approval" to the project in March, expressing worries about the strain on local resources and quality of life.
The executive order mandates state regulators to develop new standards addressing environmental impacts, energy, and water usage. While the NYS Legislature had also approved a moratorium bill, Governor Hochul opted for an immediate executive order, describing the legislative version as complex and requiring further work. Some residents, like Barry Wells of Brocton, welcomed the pause but emphasized the need for clearer written policies and broader community discussion, particularly at the county level, to ensure local benefits.