ALBANY, New York — The New York Legislature approved a sweeping measure Thursday to crack down on new large-scale data centers, including a one-year moratorium.
If Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signs the bill, it would be the first statewide moratorium on new data centers amid national concerns about the impacts of these projects to support artificial intelligence.
The bill also includes measures aimed at protecting households from potential costs, renewable energy usage requirements and labor standards for projects.
“This bill is both timely and common sense,” said state Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D), chair of the Energy Committee, during debate on the bill. “Our constituents are talking about data centers. They are worried about data centers, they are confused about data centers and they are looking for answers about data centers. As legislators, it is our job to help our state address this issue with a measured, thoughtful and comprehensive approach.”
