New York legislature passes 1-year data center moratorium
The New York state legislature has passed a bill proposing a one-year moratorium on large data centers. The bill now awaits Governor Kathy Hochul's decision, who has previously expressed reservations about statewide intervention in land use. This move reflects a growing national trend of opposition and legislative action regarding data center development.
The New York state legislature has passed a bill imposing a one-year ban on large data centers within the state. The proposed legislation has advanced to Governor Kathy Hochul's desk for her signature, though its future is uncertain as Governor Hochul has voiced skepticism regarding statewide mandates on land use, preferring such decisions to be made at the local municipal level. Despite her stated position, she has indicated she is reviewing the bill "intensely."
This legislative action in New York follows a similar attempt in Maine, where Governor Janet Mills vetoed a statewide data center moratorium in April. The article highlights a broader trend of increasing opposition to data centers across the United States, noting that a federal data center moratorium bill was introduced in March, and at least 14 states have proposed pauses on data center construction, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.