New York State Pauses Large Data Center Permits for Environmental Review
New York Governor Hochul has signed Executive Order 62, implementing a pause on state permits for new data centers with a peak load of 50 megawatts or more. This moratorium will remain in effect until the state completes a comprehensive statewide environmental review, which could take up to a year. The order was issued in response to a significant increase in data center load requests, with nearly 12 gigawatts currently in the NYISO's interconnection queue, and over 8 gigawatts added in 2025 alone, contributing to a projected 1,600-megawatt shortfall by 2030 and a nearly 50% increase in electricity prices since 2016. Projects that had already broken ground before July 14 are exempt from this pause. This has led to varied outcomes for data center projects across upstate New York; for instance, TeraWulf's Lake Mariner campus continues construction due to its exemption, while Genesee County's Stream Data Centers project and a newer TeraWulf proposal near Lansing are effectively on hold.
