Energy

N.Y. steps closer to data center development moratorium

The bill sponsor said the large data centers seeking to connect to the state grid ‘would consume as much power as all of New York City.’

Humberto Sanchez

05:09 PM, Jun 04, 2026

A view of the New York City skyline, with the Empire State Building in the center, is seen from One World Trade, in New York, June 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

New York on Thursday moved a step closer to becoming the first state to enact a moratorium on data center development.

The Assembly passed a bill on a mostly party-line vote — with Democrats supporting it — that would implement a one-year pause on the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s ability to approve data center projects of at least 20 megawatts.

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