Full Breakdown
New York Moves Toward First Statewide Moratorium on Data Centers
6/3/2026, 5:49:10 AM
Statewide One-Year Moratorium Proposal
New York lawmakers are moving a bill that would pause approvals for new large data centers for one year. It requires the Department of Environmental Conservation to issue an impact report on water, electricity, air, soil, noise, farmland and electronic waste, mandates renewable-energy use for future facilities, and needs Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature.
Background & Data
The New York Independent System Operator lists more than 12,000 MW of large-load projects in its queue—enough for roughly 12 million homes. AI and cloud growth fuels data-center demand, raising concerns about grid strain, water use and clean-energy targets. Ulster County proposals include Tera-Gen (250 MW), BayWa (150 MW) and Key Capture Energy (100 MW); Clay already bans battery-energy-storage systems.
Local Municipal Actions
Clay, N.Y., will hold a public hearing on June 15 to discuss a data-center moratorium, citing Deputy Supervisor Joe Bick’s wish to “get ahead of it.” Manlius plans a July hearing, with Supervisor Sara Bollinger stressing informed decisions. Wawarsing’s board proposes a six-month moratorium on data centers and battery-energy-storage after an inquiry about a former park; Supervisor Joseph Stoeckeler cited safety and environmental concerns.
Official Statements & Responses
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie described the bill as an omnibus package that consolidates multiple proposals and expects passage. Sen. Kristen Gonzalez called the moratorium “existential,” noting it exceeds any single election cycle. Gov. Hochul has not signed the measure but says data-center siting is a local land-use decision and she is reviewing the issue.
Criticism & Opposition
The Digital Power Network, representing bitcoin miners and digital-infrastructure firms, warned a moratorium would signal New York is “not open for business,” risking jobs. Critics say existing permitting already provides sufficient oversight.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Early drafts called for a three-year pause; the current bill limits the moratorium to one year. Gov. Hochul’s stance is reported as both non-committal and emphasizing local control. Several source excerpts lack reliability ratings, limiting verification.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We want to get ahead of it,” — Deputy Supervisor Joe Bick, Clay Town Board
- “It was a combination of a number of bills, I say it was more of an omnibus bill,” — Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie
- “We know the impact is significant, but we can’t minimize it if we don’t know the full magnitude.” — Assemblywoman Anna Kelles
- “I’ve been following the developments with data center and BESS (battery energy storage systems) for probably close to a year,” — Supervisor Joseph Stoeckeler, Wawarsing
What’s Next
The state Senate is scheduled to vote on the bill by June 5, and local hearings in Clay and Wawarsing will proceed as planned.
