New York lawmakers introduce bill that aims to halt data center development for three years

New York State Senators Liz Krueger and Kristen Gonzales have introduced a bill to halt the issuance of permits for new data centers for at least three years and ninety days. The purpose of this pause is to allow time for impact assessments and to update regulations. During this period, the Department of Environmental Conservation and Public Service Commissions will be required to issue impact statements and reports. These departments will also be tasked with issuing new orders or regulations to minimize the environmental and consumer impacts of data centers in New York. The bill requires the study of data centers' water, electricity, and gas usage, as well as their impact on the rates of these resources. A Bloomberg analysis cited in the bill notes that national household electricity rates increased by 13 percent in 2025, largely due to data center development. New York is the sixth state to introduce a bill aimed at slowing down data center development, following similar moves in Georgia, Maryland, Oklahoma, Vermont, and Virginia. The bill is currently in the early stages and is being considered by the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee. The proposed legislation aims to address concerns about the environmental and consumer impacts of data centers in the state. The introduction of this bill reflects growing concerns about the rapid expansion of data centers and their effects on the environment and local communities.