New York Data Center Moratorium: State Pauses Projects Over 50 MW

New York has temporarily paused certain permits for new data centers consuming 50 megawatts or more of power, making it the first US state to do so. The moratorium, enacted through an executive order, remains in effect until the state completes an environmental impact statement or for one year, whichever comes first, while regulators develop rules around grid connections, water use, and community impacts. The pause comes as New York faces a sharp increase in proposed artificial intelligence infrastructure, with nearly 12 gigawatts of data center load requests in the state's interconnection queue. Industry groups argue the moratorium will redirect investment and jobs to neighboring states, while some analysts suggest it could become a model for other states seeking to establish clearer regulatory standards before approving large new data center projects.