State Legislature Passes 1-Year Data Center Moratorium Over Water and Grid Strain

3 articles · Updated · Newsday · Jul 8

A 1-year moratorium on data center construction cleared the State Legislature, pausing new projects while officials assess their environmental and infrastructure effects.
Water demand, electric-grid strain and potential air and noise pollution drove the move, with critics warning large facilities could stress local resources and surrounding communities.
A proposed Yaphank data center has become a focal point because of concerns it could draw heavily from Suffolk County’s sole-source aquifer.
The pause is intended to give the state time to develop guidelines for future projects, and attention now shifts to whether Gov. Kathy Hochul will sign the bill.

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