In a parallel move that underscores mounting concerns over the infrastructure demands of artificial intelligence, New York state legislators have introduced legislation to impose a sweeping moratorium on new data centres. The bill, sponsored by Democratic State Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember Anna Kelles, would freeze permits for data centres exceeding 20 megawatts for at least three years.
During this period, the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Public Service Commission would conduct comprehensive reviews of data centres’ impacts on water, electricity, gas usage, the environment, public health, and consumer energy rates. The agencies would then propose regulations or orders to mitigate any adverse effects.
New York finds itself “completely unprepared” for the surging energy needs tied to AI-driven facilities, Senator Krueger has warned. The proposal arrives amid a national wave of similar initiatives; New York becomes at least the sixth state joining Georgia, Maryland, Oklahoma, Vermont, and Virginia to consider pausing data centre construction in recent months. Bipartisan support has emerged in several cases, reflecting shared anxiety over strained power grids and rising electricity costs for households and businesses.
Advocates, including groups such as Food & Water Watch, hail the measure as the “strongest data center moratorium bill in the country.” They emphasise the need for data-driven standards before further expansion.
Critics of unchecked growth point to real-world pressures: AI training and inference require vast computational power, often translating to enormous electricity consumption that can outpace local supply and inflate bills for ordinary residents. Yet the moratorium’s path remains uncertain, as it now sits with the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee.
Author:Oje.Ese