Governor Hochul and Representatives Ocasio-Cortez and Ryan Highlight New York’s Nation-Leading Moratorium on Hyperscale Data Center Construction

Governor and Representatives Ocasio-Cortez and Ryan Hold Roundtable in Dutchess County With Farmers and Community Stakeholders To Discuss Impacts of Potential Data Center Development

Governor Highlighted Key Policies from Data Center Moratorium and AI Safety Regulations

Governor Kathy Hochul and U.S. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pat Ryan today toured Fishkill Farms, a family-owned, multigenerational farm in East Fishkill, Dutchess County and held a roundtable discussion with several local farmers, advocates and businesses to discuss the impacts of hyperscale data centers. Today’s discussion highlighted New York’s nation-leading moratorium on hyperscale data center construction, which is helping to protect local communities amid concerns over water and land use, energy costs, and proposed data center development, including in East Fishkill.

New York State is experiencing an unprecedented surge in proposals for data center development driven by artificial intelligence and other computing operations that could require massive amounts of energy and water to run and cool thousands of computer servers. This summer, Governor Hochul signed an Executive Order hitting pause on new hyperscale data center development. This action has temporarily paused discretionary State environmental permits for up to one year in order to build a regulatory framework that will protect ratepayers, the environment, the energy grid and communities across the state. By pausing discretionary state environmental permits for new hyperscale data center construction for up to one year and imposing strict new rules that hold data center developers accountable and ensure benefits for local residents, Governor Hochul’s moratorium is addressing the ongoing concerns being raised by communities statewide.

“As artificial intelligence grows more powerful and transforms our world as we know it, I’m standing up for New York’s farmers, small businesses and families — ensuring they aren’t left behind,” Governor Hochul said. “I enacted a nation-leading data center moratorium to protect our communities and hold developers accountable because I believe New Yorkers deserve a say in the decisions that affect their future. I’m proud to stand with Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pat Ryan as we deliver a government that’s committed to fighting for working families across New York.”