Hochul Signs Nation's First Statewide Moratorium on Hyperscale Data Centers

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order establishing what her office describes as the nation's first statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data centers, temporarily pausing state environmental permits for such projects for up to one year. The order was highlighted during a roundtable event in Western New York on July 21, 2026, attended by state, business, and local leaders, according to the governor's office. Hochul stated there are currently more than thirty data center projects pending before the state that she said could strain the power grid. In remarks to NBC News on July 23, 2026, Hochul said the moratorium responds to concerns raised by local communities and argued that New York does not need additional data centers to support growth in artificial intelligence. The governor's office characterized the pause as intended to allow the state to build a regulatory framework aimed at protecting ratepayers, the environment, and the energy grid during the one-year period. The moratorium's specific regulatory provisions, implementation timeline, and long-term framework details were not fully specified in available reporting. It remains unresolved how the more than thirty pending projects cited by Hochul will be affected during the pause, and what criteria will determine whether the moratorium is extended, modified, or allowed to expire after one year.