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New York imposes moratorium on large-scale data centers
The order freezes permitting for data centers needing at least 50 megawatts while regulators assess impacts on the electric grid, water use, and air quality.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order imposing a statewide moratorium on new large-scale data centers for up to one year, pausing the permitting process for facilities that require 50 megawatts or more of electricity. The measure targets what the story describes as the fastest-growing source of U.S. power demand.
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation will use the pause to conduct a Generic Environmental Impact Statement study and to develop uniform, statewide regulatory frameworks covering energy grid demands, local water consumption, and air quality.
Smaller computing facilities used by hospitals, universities, and back-office financial services are exempt. The moratorium also follows New York lawmakers passing a one-year pause in June 2026 under the Responsible Data Center Development Act, aimed at facilities over 20 megawatts.
Hochul’s administration said it is pursuing legislation to repeal sales tax exemptions for hyperscale data centers, with officials continuing to move forward on related rules. OilPrice said the executive order enables an immediate freeze while the broader statutory proposals are reviewed and refined.