New Hampshire Governor Candidates Back Statewide Data Center Moratorium
New Hampshire gubernatorial candidates Kelly Ayotte and Cinde Warmington agreed during a Manchester forum that the state should impose a moratorium on new data centers. They cited energy costs, environmental impacts and concerns about the state’s natural resources, while disagreeing over Ayotte’s past handling of the issue and whether she could halt projects by executive order.
Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte and Democratic candidate Cinde Warmington expressed support for a statewide moratorium on data centers during a gubernatorial forum in Manchester hosted by New Hampshire Public Radio and local media partners. Both candidates said large data centers could increase energy costs and harm New Hampshire’s environment and natural character.
Ayotte said the state attorney general had advised that she lacked authority to stop projects through an executive order, and pledged to seek a moratorium through her next budget and a standalone bill. Warmington agreed with the policy but argued Ayotte should have supported earlier legislative efforts to restrict data center development.