New York mulls a one-year halt on new data centers amid AI expansion

New York lawmakers have proposed a one-year moratorium on building new large data centers (20 MW+), a framework designed to pause AI infrastructure while the state weighs environmental, energy-price, and local-job impacts; if enacted, the bill would require public hearings for major projects and remains under consideration by Governor Hochul, who has not yet signed it. Critics warn a blanket pause could damage the economy, while supporters call for a case-by-case review, and public sentiment toward data centers has grown increasingly negative.