New York Is the Latest State to Consider a Data Center Pause

New York lawmakers have introduced a bill proposing a three-year moratorium on new data center development, making the state the sixth in recent weeks to consider such a pause amid growing bipartisan concern. The bill, presented by Democrats Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember Anna Kelles, aims to address the rapid expansion of data centers, which has raised issues related to electric grid strain, environmental impact, and consumer energy costs. New York currently hosts over 130 data centers, with projects demanding significant electricity—tripling grid demand in one year—and prompting Governor Kathy Hochul to launch initiatives requiring data centers to contribute fairly to grid upgrades. This legislative move aligns with a broader national trend of opposition to data center growth, highlighted by Senator Bernie Sanders’ call for a national moratorium and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ criticism of data centers’ energy consumption. Environmental groups, including Food and Water Watch, have been instrumental in pushing for these moratoriums, citing data center expansion and the AI boom as major environmental