Link: https://www.engadget.com/2214456/new-york-kathy-hochul-data-center-ban/

Cross posted from https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/45365549

New York has become the first US state to place a moratorium on the construction of data centers, The Washington Post reported. Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order pausing environmental permits for large data centers (consuming more than 50 megawatts) for up to a year. That would give state officials the required time to create rules protecting the electrical grid, environment and local communities.

"New York will lead the way in creating the strongest standards in the nation for data center development, ensuring that when companies succeed because of New York, New Yorkers succeed too," said Hochul at a press conference. The order will take effect immediately and not affect projects that already have the required permits.

Kathy Hochul is a flawed politician, but this is definitely the right move.

As a New Yorker, I’m reasonably happy with her. Shes far from as progressive as id like; but overall has done a lot of good.

Never let perfection get in the way of progress.

Really this is the first US ban on them?? I know the law moves slow and all, but as horrid as those things have proven to be, I'd have guessed this was already common practice in the less shit places to live.

Well, here's hoping that ball picks up momentum asap.

That's high praise in NY. Most people immediately turn on elected officials

Damn dude this gov was against democracratic socialist policies but when it comes to favorability ratings composes a vague worded executive policy that may or may not have loop holes..

It's OK to demand more from elected officials, even if (especially if) you voted for them.

Fuck data centers, Fuck AI , Fuck Elon, and Fuck anyone who supports it

i think may have been gayer since mamdani came to power

it's the first statewide ban

what loopholes? this seems pretty clear:

hold in abeyance all applications for any discretionary permit, approval, license, or similar form of permission for the construction or expansion of a data center that (1) are or may hereafter be pending before DEC and (2) have not been determined to be complete by DEC before the date of this Executive Order

(until the state assesses the general impact of the rate of data center construction we've seen, that is)

The executive order is separate from New York's Responsible Data Center Development Act recently passed by the state legislature. That bill would have also banned data center permits for a year, but required energy efficiency goals for data centers and specific benefits for host communities. Governor Hochul has yet to sign that bill but is considering it.