State Issues Data Center Moratorium

Highlands Current Audio Stories · Jul 15, 2026 · 3m

Facilities face pushback nationwide Gov. Kathy Hochul issued an executive order on Tuesday (July 14) imposing the country's first moratorium on data centers, whose hunger for electricity and water has raised fears of higher electricity bills and depleted aquifers. The order prohibits the Department of Environmental Conservation from issuing, for one year, permits or licenses for pending applications for data centers that require 50 megawatts or more of energy. It also tasks the agency and the Department of Public Service with developing standards to assess potential environmental impacts from…