{"id":15308,"date":"2026-07-24T03:40:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T22:40:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=15308"},"modified":"2026-07-24T03:40:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T22:40:04","slug":"new-york-gov-kathy-hochul-explains-why-she-signed-the-first-statewide-moratorium-on-data-centers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=15308","title":{"rendered":"New York Gov. Kathy Hochul explains why she signed the first statewide moratorium on data centers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p id=\"anchor-8a54e0\" class=\"body-graf\">New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she felt the need to sign <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/us-news\/new-york-impose-countrys-first-statewide-moratorium-data-centers-rcna587429\" target=\"_blank\">the nation\u2019s first<\/a> statewide moratorium on data center development because tech giants \u201care flooding the zone\u201d with construction efforts faster than states and localities can keep up.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"styles_subscriptionCTA__LOUeY\" id=\"subscriptionCTA\" type=\"button\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" alt=\"NBC News Icon\" class=\"styles_icon__wRwWv\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"styles_textWrapper__vxvko\">\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB styles_textLarge__qlzwu\">Subscribe to read this story ad-free<\/p>\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB\">Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/rockcms\/2026-01\/arrow-f55fa5.svg\" alt=\"arrow\" class=\"styles_arrow__tnruW\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/button><\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-eef21d\" class=\"body-graf\"><a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/n-y-gov-hochul-on-the-ai-data-center-moratorium-plus\/id1820996352?i=1000778092460\" target=\"_blank\">In an interview with NBC News\u2019 \u201cHere\u2019s the Scoop,\u201d<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n<section id=\"anchor-6dff74\" class=\"embed-widget embedWidget embed-widget--medium\" data-testid=\"embed-widget\"\/>\n<p id=\"anchor-b50509\" class=\"body-graf\">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. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-699bb5\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cThere are so many applications in primarily small communities across the state of New York,\u201d Hochul said, adding localities \u201caren\u2019t quite sure how to manage this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-2c29eb\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cThey need our help,\u201d she continued. \u201cThey\u2019ve asked me for help, and at first I thought this is more of a local decision, but then I realized they don\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"inline-video inline-video--in-body inline-video--vertical-video\" data-testid=\"inline-video\" id=\"anchor-c40f94\">\n<div class=\"inline-video__background\">\n<div class=\"inline-video__player\">\n<div class=\"styles_gridStackWrapper__Z_AMc styles_verticalVideoContainer__AndXW vertical-video-container inline-article-vertical-video paused\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-testid=\"gamma-video-player\">\n<div class=\"info-layer styles_infoLayer__3khlf\">\n<p><span class=\"styles_caret__Aqe2z icon icon-play\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-testid=\"caret\"\/><span data-testid=\"card-duration\">01:08<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"styles_controlContainer__XmNB0 styles_inlineVideo__unIwH\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Video controls\">\n<p class=\"styles_title__0GjQf styles_inlineVideoInitial__c2yet\">Ocasio-Cortez shows off dirty water from near data center<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"styles_gradientOverlay__6My_d\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span aria-label=\"Elapsed time 00:00\">00:00<\/span><span aria-label=\"Remaining time 00:00\">00:00<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p id=\"anchor-efefcd\" class=\"body-graf\">Hochul\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-b50238\" class=\"body-graf\">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 electricity bills, among other worries.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-d88c8a\" class=\"body-graf\">Data center advocates and boosters have argued the pushback is based on faulty data and assumptions, and they have pointed to the economic benefits their development has brought to states and localities.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-b31f42\" class=\"body-graf\">Pressed on whether New York can be an active participant in the AI boom while shunning data center development for the next year, Hochul said the framing was essentially a false choice. She pointed to <a href=\"https:\/\/brooklyneagle.com\/404075\/nyc-nets-40k-new-jobs-on-wall-street\" target=\"_blank\">recent job growth on Wall Street<\/a> that she said is primarily driven by AI, adding that companies \u201cwill come here because they\u2019re looking for the talent, the innovation, the energy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-b000b8\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201c[W]e don\u2019t have that many data centers yet, so \u2026 we don\u2019t need the data centers to support that,\u201d she said. \u201cBut to those who think that by rejecting data centers for the year while we\u2019re doing this thoughtful process means we\u2019re rejecting innovation, that\u2019s just a false, false narrative.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-3d003c\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cYou don\u2019t have to have the data centers here to be successful, but that doesn\u2019t mean we won\u2019t welcome them at the right time and place under really different conditions than exist right now,\u201d she continued. \u201cSo we\u2019re just being thoughtful about this. And people are happy we\u2019re doing this.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"styles_inlineImage__FvnTh styles_medium__MEKii\" id=\"anchor-40f262\"><picture class=\"styles_image__i32F7\" data-testid=\"picture\" data-flavor=\"fit\" data-original-height=\"1467\" data-original-width=\"2200\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260722-Data-Center-protest-NY-aa-956-cb5a5c.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260722-Data-Center-protest-NY-aa-956-cb5a5c.jpg 1x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 320px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260722-Data-Center-protest-NY-aa-956-cb5a5c.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260722-Data-Center-protest-NY-aa-956-cb5a5c.jpg 1x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260722-Data-Center-protest-NY-aa-956-cb5a5c.jpg\" alt=\"tu051226_datacenters advocates\" height=\"1467\" width=\"2200\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"caption styles_caption__TCewG\" data-testid=\"caption\"><span class=\"caption__container\" data-testid=\"caption__container\">Environmental advocates and progressive lawmakers at a May rally in Albany, N.Y., in support of legislation that would put a moratorium on new data centers in the state.<\/span><span class=\"caption__source\" data-testid=\"caption__source\">Will Waldron \/ Albany Times Union via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"anchor-e4129f\" class=\"body-graf\">Hochul said it wasn\u2019t her goal to be \u201cfirst\u201d but to \u201cbe the first to get it right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-bfadaa\" class=\"body-graf\">Her move was met with some pushback, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/opinion\/kathy-hochul-new-york-data-centers-moratorium-32457d9c?mod=article_inline\" target=\"_blank\">including in the opinion pages<\/a> of The Wall Street Journal, with the paper\u2019s editorial board excoriating her move and Hochul <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/opinion\/gov-kathy-hochul-how-new-york-will-get-ai-data-centers-right-40fce95b\" target=\"_blank\">responding in a letter of her own<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-4eb152\" class=\"body-graf\">In her interview with \u201cHere\u2019s the Scoop,\u201d Hochul said momentum to enact data center pauses locally is being driven by both Democrats and Republicans, citing a recent conversation with a local official from a Republican town on Long Island. She added that \u201canyone\u201d who believes her move amounted to \u201cpolitical pandering \u2026 doesn\u2019t know me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-bfd7d9\" class=\"body-graf\">She separately said her administration had conversations with at least one leading AI company ahead of making the announcement, though she did not say which one.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-19dfb7\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201c[T]here were conversations on the front end, so people knew what we were doing,\u201d Hochul said, adding her team alerted one company of the upcoming development and told them \u201c\u2018we\u2019ll define the rules of the road, and we\u2019ll want you to follow them.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-2c88f1\" class=\"body-graf\">Hochul also discussed her recently announced bid to bring the Olympics to New York in 2042, election security, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani\u2019s first months in office.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-89d32f\" class=\"body-graf\">Asked about Mamdani\u2019s appointment of former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan to serve as chair of the New York City Economic Development Corporation\u2019s Board of Directors, Hochul said she\u2019s not second-guessing any of his appointments. She did praise his pick of Tony Shorris, a former first deputy mayor under former Mayor Bill de Blasio, as CEO of the NYCEDC.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-e00309\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cI don\u2019t have a relationship with the former head of the Federal Trade Commission,\u201d Hochul said of Khan, who has become a star in the left\u2019s antitrust sphere. \u201cWhat I do have is a relationship with Tony Shorris, and I have confidence in his ability to work in a collaborative way with \u2026 all the perspectives that are expected in his new position here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-2d987f\" class=\"body-graf\">Responding to Mamdani\u2019s recent video explaining that he does not have the authority to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu when the Israeli prime minister visits New York City in September for the United Nations General Assembly, Hochul said Mamdani is correct in his assessment of his authority. Mamdani, who previously discussed a potential arrest of Netanyahu in New York City both on the campaign trail and in office, instead called on the federal government to make such an arrest.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-1bc75a\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cMy position is that is the correct answer, that the city does not have the authority, and he chose to go through the questioning about this, and he came to that conclusion,\u201d she said. \u201cListen, I understand this frustration with the leadership in Israel, not the people of Israel, not the place of Israel, but the leadership and what is being conducted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-0d6438\" class=\"endmark body-graf\">\u201cI\u2019m not stepping into international relations right now because I want to make sure that the Jewish community feels protected in this city, that I\u2019ve done a lot to fight antisemitism because they\u2019re under siege,\u201d she continued. \u201cWe\u2019ve had a huge spike in hate crimes, and my job is to make sure we have the resources to protect sensitive locations, the synagogues, yeshivas, mosques. \u2026 So I\u2019m working on areas where I actually have some direct control, and I do not control the leadership of Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she felt the need to sign the nation\u2019s first statewide moratorium on data center development because tech giants \u201care flooding the zone\u201d with construction efforts faster than states and localities can keep up. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. In&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15309,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_nbcnews-fp-1200-630,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260722-Hochul-aa-956-6d64be.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15308","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15308"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15308\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}