Orangetown Planning Board Halts DataBank Data Center Expansion, Mandates Environmental Study

The Orangetown Planning Board has unanimously voted to require a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Phase 2 expansion of DataBank's hyperscale data center complex. This decision effectively halts the project indefinitely, citing significant environmental concerns, particularly regarding Lake Tappan, and comes after months of intense public opposition.

Local elected officials and organizations, including Food & Water Watch, Indivisible Rockland, the Data Center Coalition, and Sierra Club, rallied with over 100 residents, urging the Planning Board to reject the application. Concerns raised included excessive water consumption, soaring energy costs, noise pollution, and the potential misuse of public funds.

This local development coincides with a broader state-level initiative. On July 14, Governor Hochul signed an Executive Order enacting New York's first moratorium on new hyperscale data centers. This temporary pause, lasting up to one year, aims to establish a nation-leading regulatory framework to protect ratepayers, the environment, and the energy grid. The Governor has directed the Department of Public Service (DPS) to develop a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for data centers, ensuring consistent standards across the state.

During the GEIS development period, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will not issue new discretionary environmental permits. Governor Hochul emphasized the need to address the unprecedented growth in AI-driven data center demand, which could strain the state's energy and water resources, ensuring that new developments benefit New Yorkers and adhere to robust state and local approvals once the moratorium is lifted.