New York Orders One-Year Pause on New Large Data Centers

Overview

• The governor issued the order on Tuesday, July 14, pausing approval of new state environmental permits for data centers that use 50 megawatts or more of power while agencies study their impacts.
• The pause does not affect existing data centers or projects that have already completed state permitting and will remain in force for 12 months unless changed.
• The order directs the New York State Department of Public Service and other agencies to measure effects on the electric grid, local water supplies and air quality and to recommend new rules and possible infrastructure investments.
• Industry groups warned the moratorium could shift investment and jobs to other states and large tech companies criticized the move, and President Donald Trump said the decision risks ceding an edge in AI and jobs to other states and countries.
• New York has more than 130 data centers and faced over 12 gigawatts of pending large grid‑connection requests, a backlog that helps explain why the state acted and why this pause may influence national policy and actions in other states.