New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order on July 14, 2026, ordering a statewide moratorium on large data centers, making it the first state in the country to suspend construction of such facilities, according to officials. The order halts the construction and expansion of data centers for up to one year while state regulators develop standards to address energy demand, environmental impacts, and water usage.
The moratorium applies to new data centers requiring 50 megawatts or more of electricity, effectively freezing the permitting process for the fastest-growing source of U.S. power demand, according to the governor’s office. The order directs the New York Department of Environmental Conservation to conduct a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) to assess grid, water, and air impacts. [1] Smaller computing facilities used by hospitals, universities, and back-office financial services are exempt from the executive order. [2]
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