Trump rails against New York’s statewide datacenter moratorium

Former President Donald Trump criticized New York Governor Kathy Hochul's decision to implement a one-year moratorium on new hyperscale datacenters. New York became the first US state to enact such a pause on Tuesday, with Governor Hochul stating the order aims to establish regulatory standards for environmental impacts, energy grid protection, land disruption, noise pollution, and water supply. Trump argued on Truth Social that the ban was politically motivated and that datacenters are crucial for job creation and state revenue. He also suggested datacenters should cover their own utility costs rather than receiving tax breaks. The article notes a growing national sentiment against datacenters due to concerns about energy prices and environmental effects, with other cities and states also considering similar pauses.

New York State has implemented a one-year moratorium on the construction of large new hyperscale data centres, becoming the first state in the U.S. to do so. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the ban, which will halt new discretionary permits for facilities requiring 50 megawatts or more of power. The state aims to establish a regulatory framework to address concerns about rising utility costs, depletion of natural resources, and uncertainty for residents. During this pause, New York will assess electricity demand and community impacts. The new policy also shifts costs to data centre developers, requiring them to pay more for power, contribute to grid upgrades, provide their own power, invest in clean energy, and potentially lose sales tax exemptions. This move comes as data centre development has become a significant issue nationwide.

New York has become the first U.S. state to impose a one-year moratorium on new, large AI datacenters. Governor Kathy Hochul issued an executive order mandating this pause on facilities with electrical capacity exceeding 50 megawatts. The decision aims to address concerns about rising utility bills, depletion of natural resources, and environmental impacts. State regulators will use this period to develop standards for energy demand, water usage, and other environmental factors. This move reflects a growing national trend of municipalities and states considering similar pauses due to public apprehension about the costs and environmental effects of datacenters.