NYS lawmakers pass one-year data center moratorium
New York State lawmakers have passed a one-year moratorium on issuing permits for large data centers that require over 20 megawatts of energy. This pause allows officials to study the economic and environmental impacts of these facilities, addressing growing concerns across the state, including in the Town of Tonawanda where a large data center is proposed.
New York State lawmakers have enacted a one-year moratorium on new permits for large data centers across the state. The legislation, passed in Albany, specifically targets data centers requiring more than 20 megawatts of energy.
The purpose of this temporary pause is to allow state officials to conduct comprehensive studies on the economic and environmental impacts of such energy-intensive facilities. The move comes amid increasing concerns from communities in Western New York, particularly in the Town of Tonawanda, where a significant data center project has been proposed.
State Senator Jeremy Zellner spoke near the former Tunnel Want to Coax site in Tonawanda, which is the location of a proposed large data center. He emphasized the need for answers regarding electricity consumption and the handling of chemicals within closed-loop water systems at these facilities. Senator Zellner stated that the moratorium provides the necessary time to ask these critical questions, obtain answers, and establish statewide "guardrails" for future data center development.