“New York becomes the first state to impose a data center moratorium”, 14 July 2026

New York became the first U.S. state on Tuesday to halt construction of large new data centers, imposing ‌a one-year moratorium as concerns grow that the facilities driving the artificial-intelligence boom are raising power costs, straining water supplies and burdening local communities…

The construction ​ban will apply to data centers that use 50 megawatts or more of power, officials in the governor's office said.

During the moratorium, the state's Department of Environmental Conservation will not issue any discretionary permits not already deemed complete, the governor's office said.

Instead, Hochul directed state officials to develop ​a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) to ensure that new data centers coming online are being held to "consistent standards,”…

The ban will be lifted once the state ‌finalizes those ⁠standards, according to Hochul's office…

New York's legislature last month passed a bill meant to impose guardrails on data centers, but it has not yet been sent to Hochul's desk for signing. Officials in her office described the bill as complicated…

Dozens of state legislatures have introduced bills to rein in the effects of ​data centers on ⁠power bills and the environment. New York is the first to enact a full moratorium…