ABC News 10: Hochul halts new data center approvals via executive order

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order on Tuesday that halts approvals for new data centers, giving the Department of Public Service and the Department of Environmental Conservation until July 2027 to study any environmental and economic impacts. The pause or moratorium is supposed to keep power-hungry facilities from increasing New Yorkers’ utility bills and depleting water resources, but some business and labor leaders say it will push jobs and tax revenues to other states.

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Carlo Scissura, the president of the New York Building Congress, said that completely shutting the door on development will cost tens of thousands of jobs and lose out on millions of dollars in investments. “This data center moratorium will damage our state’s economy, its workforce, and our competitive standing in the industries of tomorrow,” he said.