What’s happening in New York
New York is the first state in the country to actually pause data centers. On July 14, 2026, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed Executive Order No. 62, and it took effect on signing.
The order directs the Department of Environmental Conservation to stop issuing discretionary state environmental permits for data centers that consume — or could consume — 50 megawatts or more. DEC holds any application it had not already deemed complete before July 14, along with all new ones. The pause runs up to a year, until the state finishes a Generic Environmental Impact Statement setting standards for energy demand, water use and quality, and air quality. When those standards are final, the moratorium lifts.
Read the limits carefully. EO 62 does not stop local governments from considering local permits, and it does not touch state applications already deemed complete before July 14. A project that cleared DEC review, or that needs no discretionary DEC permit at all, is not paused. Local zoning is still where most of these get decided.
The order also gives Empire State Development 60 days to publish a Community Investment Framework — a template for towns and counties negotiating benefits from developers: infrastructure, child care funding, direct payments, prevailing wage, local hiring.
The pressure behind it: as of May 2026, roughly 12 gigawatts of data center load requests sat in the New York Independent System Operator interconnection queue, more than 8 GW of that having entered in 2025 alone.
The bill Hochul did not sign
The Legislature passed the Responsible Data Center Development Act on June 4, 2026 — sponsored by Senator Liz Krueger and Assembly Member Anna Kelles, who led the 2022 moratorium on fossil fuel-fired crypto mining, one of the first such laws in the country. That bill set a fixed one-year DEC moratorium starting at 20 megawatts.
Hochul has not signed it. Her executive order uses a 50 MW threshold instead of 20, and ties the pause to completion of environmental review rather than a fixed term. A Hochul staffer told reporters the bill is “complicated” and would take time to work through with the Legislature, and that the order “felt like the fastest way to be able to act now.” The earlier three-year proposals, S9144 and A10141, are not the operative action here.
Why New York residents are concerned
Electricity rates. New York already has among the highest rates in the country. Adding massive data center loads threatens to push them even higher for residential customers.
Grid and climate goals. New York's grid is transitioning to renewable energy under the Climate Leadership Act. Data centers requiring constant baseload power complicate that transition.
Environmental justice. Data center infrastructure is often sited in communities already burdened by industrial pollution.
How to oppose a data center in New York
Attend your county commission or city council meetings. Local elected officials control zoning and land use decisions. Public comment periods are your most direct opportunity to voice opposition. Bring specific concerns — water impact, property values, electricity rates, noise — and reference relevant state and local legislation.
Send a formal opposition letter. Written opposition becomes part of the public record and carries significant weight with commissioners. Letters should cite specific concerns, reference relevant statutes, and be addressed to every commissioner by name. We handle this for you →
Organize your neighbors. Join or create a local opposition group. More than 833 community groups across 49 states are actively fighting data center developments. Strength in numbers changes votes.
Engage state legislators. Contact your state representative and senator. Tell them you support regulatory frameworks that protect communities from data center impacts — including moratoriums, ratepayer protections, and environmental review requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a data center moratorium in New York?
S9144/A10141 would impose a moratorium for up to three years while regulators develop ratepayer protection rules. Sponsored by the same lawmakers who passed the 2022 crypto-mining moratorium.
How can I oppose a data center in New York?
Attend your county commission or city council meetings, submit formal opposition letters to your elected officials, and engage with state-level legislation. More than 833 community groups across 49 states are actively fighting data center developments. We can research your local officials and send a personalized opposition letter on your behalf for you.
How much water does a data center use?
A single hyperscale data center can consume up to 1 million gallons of water per day during peak cooling. AI data centers consumed roughly 17 billion gallons nationally in 2023, projected to reach 68 billion gallons by 2028.
Do data centers lower property values?
Research consistently shows that proximity to industrial infrastructure — including data centers — can negatively impact residential property values. Windowless warehouse-scale buildings, diesel generators, and continuous noise are incompatible with residential neighborhoods.