GoKawiilUS President Joe Biden (2L), with US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, looks at a 3D rendering of a future Micron factory presenting by CEO of Micron Technology Sanjay Mehrotra (L) during a tour of the Micron Pavilion at the SRC Arena and Events Center of Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, New York on October 27, 2022.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday signed an executive order barring the construction of new large-scale data centers using 50 megawatts or more of power for up to one year, making the Empire State the first state in the nation to impose such a ban.
"We're in the midst of one of the most significant economic upheavals in generations … perhaps ever," the governor said, announcing the executive order in New York City. "These hyperscale AI data centers consume enormous amounts of power, truly threatening to outpace our grid's capacity," she added. "They drive up costs for local ratepayers, and I refuse to let those costs get passed down to New Yorkers."
Hochul's sentiment echoes that of many state residents and environmental leaders, who have heavily scrutinized hyperscaler data centers on the basis of their excessive consumption of power and natural resources, particularly fresh water.
The announcement noted that New Yorkers have seen their electric bills surge, with the state's average residential electricity price climbing nearly 68 percent since 2019. This fact has skewed public opinion starkly against new data center construction, with major public backlash against proposed facilities in townships such as Lansing and East Fishkill.
Leaders of the data center opposition celebrated the governor's decision.
"This one-year moratorium is a huge step forward for New York communities fighting against an onslaught of massive data center proposals," stated Laura Shindell, director of New York State's Food & Water Watch, a high-profile environmental nonprofit. "It comes as the direct result of immense public pressure from people across the state demanding their elected leaders protect them from Big Tech's assault, which threatens the state's clean air and water and New Yorkers' financial security."
Praise was not limited to environmental and community leaders, however, as it also came from the governor's allies, both in Congress and in the state legislature.
""This one-year moratorium is fundamentally about trust," said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, in a statement provided to WRGB Albany. "Right now, New Yorkers aren't convinced these massive facilities benefit them. Before we move forward, our communities need ironclad guarantees that their energy bills won't spike, their water will be protected, and their air will remain clean."
"Technology should make our lives better, not pollute our water, strain our energy grid, or drive up our utility bills," State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, a Democrat, stated in the New York State announcement. "By giving our State time to plan, we can ensure that development and innovation do not come at the expense of all of us."
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