Overview
- The statewide moratorium halts state approvals for the largest data centers for up to one year while regulators write new environmental and planning rules.
- Reports vary on the size cutoff for the pause, with state statements commonly citing 50 megawatts and some outlets reporting a 20-megawatt threshold.
- Governor Kathy Hochul said roughly 30 pending applications justified the pause and stressed the move aims to ensure communities benefit from AI investment.
- President Donald Trump, investor Bill Ackman and major New York business groups publicly criticized the order, warning projects, jobs and tax revenue could shift to states such as Texas and Georgia.
- Supporters point to risks to local electricity grids, high water use and lack of community protections, and regulators are expected to propose measures to stop ratepayers from footing grid upgrade costs.