New York lawmakers are proposing a three-year freeze on new data centers

New York state legislators have introduced a bill which will impose a moratorium of at least three years on permits associated with the construction and operation of new data centers. While the bill’s prospects are uncertain, Wired reports that New York is at least the sixth state to consider halting new data center construction.

As tech companies plan to spend ever-increasing amounts of money building AI infrastructure, both Democrats and Republicans have raised concerns about the impact these data centers might have on surrounding communities. Studies have also linked data centers with increased electricity bills at home;.

Critics include progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has called for a national moratoriumas well as conservative Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis, who said data centers will lead to “Higher energy bills just so some chatbot can corrupt a 13-year-old online.”

More than 230 environmental groups including Food & Water Watch, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace recently signed an open letter to Congress calling for a national moratorium on the construction of new data centers.

Eric Weltman of Food & Water Watch told Wired that the New York bill — sponsored by state Sen. Liz Krueger and Rep. Anna Kelles, both Democrats — was “our idea.” Data center freezes have also been proposed by Democrats in Georgia, Vermont and Virginia, while Republicans have supported similar bills in Maryland and Oklahoma.

According to PoliticoKrueger described her state as “completely unprepared” for the “huge data centers” that are “shooting for New York.”

“It’s time to hit the pause button, give ourselves some time to adopt strong data center policies and avoid being trapped in a bubble that will burst and leave New York customers with a huge bill,” he said.

Last month, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a new initiative called Energize NY Development, which said its office would modernize how large energy users (ie, data centers) connect to the grid, while also asking them to “pay their fair share.”