New York Gov.Kathy Hochul said she felt the need to sign the nation’s first statewide moratorium on data center development because tech giants “are flooding the zone” with construction efforts faster than states and localities can keep up.Subscribe to read this story ad-freeGet unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.In an interview with NBC News’ “Here’s the Scoop,” Hochul said she decided to pause state permitting for new large data centers and direct state regulators to author new standards for them after hearing from local governments in her state that were seeking help managing the boom.
Notably, New York does not have as many large data centers as some nearby states, but the Democratic governor said applications in small New York communities are quickly piling up.“There are so many applications in primarily small communities across the state of New York,” Hochul said, adding localities “aren’t quite sure how to manage this.”“They need our help,” she continued.
“They’ve asked me for help, and at first I thought this is more of a local decision, but then I realized they don’t have the negotiating ability, the clout, the wherewithal to be able to negotiate the best benefits or to make sure that these companies, as I said in my State of the State, are either bringing their own power or paying a premium into the grid to cover the cost.”01:08Ocasio-Cortez shows off dirty water from near data center00:0000:00Hochul’s move is a major salvo in the ongoing nationwide battle over the data center buildout.State lawmakers in both parties have sought to advance moratoriums on data center construction, while Sen.
Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep.Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., have advocated for one on the federal level.Opposition to data centers has intensified over the last year, with a number of grassroots groups sprouting up to protest their development, pointing to environmental concerns and rising electricit...