#data centers

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a one-year moratorium on new data center construction requiring 50 megawatts or more of power, making New York the first U.S. state to impose such a ban. This regulatory action signals growing tension between AI-driven data center expansion and energy infrastructure, potentially setting a precedent for other states to follow amid rising electricity costs and environmental concerns. During the moratorium, the state&\x27;s environmental department will stop issuing permits; the ban will lift only after the state develops uniform environmental impact standards. Hochul also plans to push legislation eliminating sales tax exemptions for large data centers.