{"id":301909,"date":"2026-07-21T16:47:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T16:47:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/301909\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T16:47:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T16:47:09","slug":"new-yorks-data-center-moratorium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/301909\/","title":{"rendered":"New York\u2019s data center moratorium."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Hello again! This is Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, back from paternity leave, and I hope you built up an appetite for my writing over the last three weeks because you\u2019re about to hear a lot more from me. Canadian wildfires, tropical storms over the Gulf, and budding tech issues are lining up a bunch of topics that are squarely in my wheelhouse. Today, we\u2019re covering New York\u2019s data center moratorium. In April, I wrote the argument in favor of more data centers, so\u2026 yeah. Let\u2019s see if any of today\u2019s arguments, or 25 days of looking into a miniature and sometimes wailing face, have changed my mind.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s not all we\u2019re covering today. We also take a look at a new rule for granting federal funding to colleges, a story about a grassroots food pantry, and I cede the last word on the data center issue to a colleague who disagrees with me. Bring it on, chump. If you\u2019ve got 14 minutes, you\u2019ve got another great edition coming at you.<\/p>\n<p>What happened to Alaska\u2019s election reform?<\/p>\n<p>In 2020, Alaskans voted to adopt a first-of-its-kind election system \u2014 top-four open primaries with ranked-choice voting in the general election \u2014 which advocates said would expand voter choice and boost consensus-minded candidates. In 2024, an initiative to repeal that system narrowly failed, but a new repeal measure is on the ballot this year. Ahead of that critical vote, Senior Editor Will Kaback traveled to Alaska to speak with the leading voices on each side of the issue about the impact of the state\u2019s election reform \u2014 and whether it will survive another challenge.<\/p>\n<p>Quick hits.Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC), who was appointed to serve out the remainder of her late brother Sen. Lindsey Graham\u2019s (R) term, said she will run for the Republican nomination for the seat in the state\u2019s special primary election in August. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2026-election\/sen-darline-graham-says-running-full-6-year-term-trump-urged-jump-race-rcna588415?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The announcement<\/a>)The Pentagon disclosed that close to 100 servicemembers have been injured in the Iran war in the past two weeks, adding that 96% of those injured have since returned to duty. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/2026\/07\/20\/iran-retaliates-against-us-strikes-gas-returns-4-gallon\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The update<\/a>) Separately, the Houthis, an Iran-backed militia group in Yemen, declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia in response to a \u201ccontinued Saudi siege\u201d on Yemen. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/07\/20\/world\/middleeast\/yemen-houthis-saudi-arabia-red-sea-blockade.html?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The declaration<\/a>)President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on select Canadian imports under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The White House said the duties were retaliation for \u201cdiscriminatory\u201d trade measures by Canada. (<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/administration\/5979288-trump-imposes-canadian-tariffs\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The tariffs<\/a>)Authorities arrested a man they said started a fire and set off fireworks outside a federal building in New York City, injuring three people. The suspect, an Army veteran, was described as an \u201canti-ICE activist.\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/newyork\/news\/incendiary-device-federal-building-nyc-manhattan\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The incident<\/a>)\u00a0Andy Burnham officially became Britain\u2019s new prime minister, replacing Keir Starmer. President Trump said he and Burnham had a \u201cvery good\u201d call and plan to meet in the \u201cnot too distant future.\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/trump-says-first-call-new-uk-pm-burnham-very-well-pledges-us-support?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The call<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Make tax season simple<\/p>\n<p>Tax season doesn\u2019t have to mean wondering if you have the right forms, second-guessing your deductions, or scrambling to pull everything together before the deadline.<\/p>\n<p>With <a href=\"https:\/\/api.wellput.io\/v1\/cm?cmid=1014307mr2l3w81&amp;tid=353&amp;s1=v2-r744638-p1014307-c49552&amp;s2=Tangle&amp;s3=&amp;s4=null&amp;ref=readtangle.com\" class=\"cta-link-color\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">BELAY\u2019s tax prep support<\/a>, you can approach tax season with confidence. Stay organized with one centralized place to gather and check off your documents, keep track of valuable deductions like HSA contributions, education expenses and childcare credits, and lean on experienced professionals who make tax preparation accurate, efficient, and completely hands-off.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/api.wellput.io\/v1\/cm?cmid=1014307mr2l3w81&amp;tid=353&amp;s1=v2-r744638-p1014307-c49552&amp;s2=Tangle&amp;s3=&amp;s4=null&amp;ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\" class=\"cta-link-color\" target=\"_blank\">Download BELAY\u2019s free Personal Tax Checklist and start preparing with confidence, today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s topic. <\/p>\n<p>New York\u2019s data center moratorium. On Tuesday, July 14, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.governor.ny.gov\/executive-order\/no-62-establishing-temporary-moratorium-data-centers-new-york-while-state-develops?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">executive order<\/a> pausing construction of new large-scale data centers in the state for up to one year. Hochul said the moratorium is intended to allow policymakers to study the economic and environmental effects of new data centers and consider regulatory action. The governor\u2019s order went into effect immediately, making New York the first state to halt data center construction.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Back up: Data centers are servers, storage systems, and networking equipment that process and store digital information. Demand for new hubs has increased alongside advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), and technology companies have begun building new data centers to support the compute power needed to reliably provide AI services. However, new construction of the facilities has provoked public backlash and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.readtangle.com\/should-we-build-more-data-centers-pro-con\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">raised concerns<\/a> about energy and water use and environmental harms.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Gov. Hochul\u2019s order <a href=\"https:\/\/www.governor.ny.gov\/executive-order\/no-62-establishing-temporary-moratorium-data-centers-new-york-while-state-develops?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=(3)%20consume%20or%20can%20consume%2050%20megawatts%20of%20energy%20or%20more.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">defines<\/a> large-scale (or \u201chyperscale\u201d) data centers as those consuming 50 megawatts or more of energy and providing \u201cdata storage, cloud computing, and\/or content delivery to customers, internal operations, and\/or affiliated business operations.\u201d It exempts facilities that are primarily used to support manufacturing, research, education, and medical care. During the moratorium, the state will complete an environmental review studying data centers\u2019 impacts on electricity demand, the power grid, water consumption, water quality, and air quality. It will also create a \u201cCommunity Investment Framework\u201d to help municipalities negotiate with prospective data center developers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In a press release, Hochul said uncertainty about data centers\u2019 resource use and cost to taxpayers required a temporary pause to allow for a proper assessment of their impact. \u201cNew York State is experiencing unprecedented growth in demand for data center development driven by artificial intelligence and other computing operations\u2026 that could require massive amounts of energy and water to run and cool thousands of computer servers,\u201d the release <a href=\"https:\/\/www.governor.ny.gov\/news\/first-statewide-moratorium-new-hyperscale-data-centers-launched-governor-kathy-hochul?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=New%20York%20State%20is,thousands%20of%20computer%20servers.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">read<\/a>. However, Hochul also affirmed her support for AI in the long run, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/07\/14\/nyregion\/new-york-data-center-moratorium-hochul.html?eafs_enabled=false&amp;ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=On%20Tuesday%2C%20Ms,and%20our%20communities.%E2%80%9D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">saying<\/a>, \u201cThe businesses that build technology capable of changing civilization with AI are also capable of working with us to protect our power grid, to protect our water supplies and our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Many environmental groups praised the order. \u201cThis one-year moratorium is a huge step forward for New York communities fighting against an onslaught of massive data center proposals,\u201d Laura Shindell, Food &amp; Water Watch\u2019s New York State director, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foodandwaterwatch.org\/2026\/07\/14\/gov-hochuls-data-center-moratorium-is-huge-step-forward-in-protecting-new-york-communities\/?ms=some_tw_07142026_NAT-FWW-c3-ny-data-center-win-pr&amp;oms=some_tw_07142026_NAT-FWW-c3-ny-data-center-win-pr&amp;ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">said<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>However, some New York lawmakers oppose data center construction moratoriums, saying that they will put the state at an economic disadvantage. \u201cA statewide moratorium is the wrong answer to the right questions. It freezes investment [and] takes decisions away from the communities that should be making them\u2026 The responsible path is to set clear, firm standards and let willing communities decide for themselves,\u201d Assemblyman Scott Gray (R) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.assembly.state.ny.us\/mem\/Scott-Gray\/story\/118612?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">wrote<\/a> in June.<\/p>\n<p>Today, we\u2019ll survey arguments from the left and right about the executive order. Then, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman gives his take.<\/p>\n<p>    Many on the left support New York\u2019s moratorium, calling it a model for other states.\u00a0Some contend that the pause could help the AI industry in the long run.Others say Democrats will benefit from Trump\u2019s support of data centers.<\/p>\n<p>In USA Today, Sara Pequen\u0303o wrote <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/opinion\/columnist\/2026\/07\/16\/new-york-ai-data-center-moratorium-hochul\/90918402007\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cNew York just showed the country how to stop data centers.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201c[The moratorium] was the right move \u2014 and a politically savvy one,\u201d Pequen\u0303o said. \u201cHating data centers might be the only thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on right now, and politicians would be smart to take advantage of this rare moment of bipartisanship. Politicians need to get it together, get on the same page, and follow New York\u2019s lead in implementing a moratorium and, eventually, stronger regulation on data centers.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile I see the benefits that data centers could bring\u2026 lawmakers are beholden to the people they serve \u2014 not lobbyists or businesses,\u201d Pequen\u0303o wrote. \u201cThis is an opportunity for politicians at all levels to listen to their constituents and remember who they work for \u2014 not the corporations funding their campaigns, but the people\u2026 New York\u2019s moratorium is a great first step \u2014 next comes the regulation that\u2019s needed to ensure data centers do not further harm the environment and affect quality of life in these communities. I hope to see other states follow suit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In Bloomberg, Joe Weisenthal gave an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/newsletters\/2026-07-15\/the-optimistic-case-for-the-hochul-data-center-pause?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u201coptimistic case\u201d<\/a> for the moratorium.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[Hochul] insists that the moratorium is not a Trojan horse for a long-term ban or a de-facto ban, by doing one-year pause after one-year pause. Instead she wants to take a year so that communities can figure out the best arrangements with data center companies, so that the entrance of a new facility brings economic benefits to the area,\u201d Weisenthal wrote. \u201cIf you\u2019re generally liberal on questions of economic development\u2026 I think what you should hope to see is that we get a series of developments where (for fiscal reasons) communities see a tangible benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWithout that, we\u2019re likely to see a ratchet of more and more restrictions on data center development all around the country in red and blue states,\u201d Weisenthal said. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty understandable to be skeptical about the motives of any elected official. And I suppose we\u2019ll only know if this pause achieved anything productive in a year. Maybe the politics will just end up much worse. But there is a version where the growth of the industry continues in a manner that creates less public hostility.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In MS NOW, Paul Waldman said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ms.now\/opinion\/trump-data-centers-elon-musk-democrats?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cTrump\u2019s data center boosterism is a gift to Democrats.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed [the] executive order\u2026 President Donald Trump was not happy,\u201d Waldman wrote. \u201c\u2018New York should change its Policy, IMMEDIATELY,\u2019 he posted to Truth Social. \u2018The Radical Left Dumocrats must not be allowed to cause us to lose Data Centers, AI, and all of this incredible new Technology, to China, and other countries!\u2019 The New York moratorium is the first such statewide ban in the country, though it may not be the last. The frenzy of data center construction is rapidly becoming one of the most important issues on the political landscape, and unlike most issues, it doesn\u2019t fall cleanly across partisan lines \u2014 at least not yet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGiven how unpopular data centers are \u2014 and how they have become a stand-in for people\u2019s feelings about a rapacious tech industry, greedy billionaires and the threats posed by artificial intelligence \u2014 nothing could be better for Democrats than to have voters associate data centers with Republicans,\u201d Waldman said. \u201c[Trump] seems to have decided to become the face of an issue on which he\u2019s on the wrong side of two-thirds of the public. That makes the data center issue an enormous gift to Democrats. It doesn\u2019t take a political genius to see they ought to exploit it for everything it\u2019s worth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>What the right is saying.<\/p>\n<p>    The right criticizes the moratorium, with some predicting it will set back U.S. AI development.\u00a0Many compare the ban to past moratoriums that stunted economic growth.Others say anti-progress activists are showing their influence.<\/p>\n<p>The New York Post editorial board called the ban a <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/15\/opinion\/hochuls-data-center-ban-is-a-loss-for-new-york-and-a-win-for-china\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u201closs for New York \u2014 and a win for China.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHochul may tell herself (and pro-business allies) that her executive order banning data centers is merely a \u2018pause\u2019 to appease the greens until she wins re-election, but the pressure to extend it will only grow stronger \u2014 and she won\u2019t need the business community after November,\u201d the board wrote. \u201cWorse, she\u2019s kneeling not just to fearmongering by the likes of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, who see every innovation as a threat, but by Chinese propagandists who want to strangle American AI development in the cradle.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo justify her moratorium, Hochul trotted out Beijing\u2019s talking points that data centers will \u2018hike up utility bills, deplete our natural resources, and create uncertainty,\u2019\u201d the board said. \u201cData centers are crucial to AI; without them, New York has no hope of leading in the next major US growth sector \u2014 and little hope of retaining its remaining leadership in older sectors that will increasingly rely on AI, including finance\u2026 New York desperately needs a forward-thinking chief executive who\u2019ll stand up to the superstition and enemy propaganda, one who\u2019ll ensure we embrace innovation and economic growth. Instead, we\u2019re stuck with Kathy Hochul.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In The Daily Caller, David Blackmon said the <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2026\/07\/15\/why-new-yorks-data-center-moratorium-feels-all-too-familiar\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cmoratorium feels all too familiar.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe parallel to [Gov. Andrew Cuomo\u2019s] 2014 fracking decision is striking, and the likely outcomes for New Yorkers are equally concerning\u2026 Though presented as temporary amid ongoing study, the policy effectively ended high-volume hydraulic fracturing in the state,\u201d Blackmon wrote. \u201cBy freezing [data center] permitting for a year (or longer if the legislative bill advances), New York signals uncertainty to developers with project plans under development or ready to go\u2026 Projects that might have brought big benefits to upstate or other regions could simply locate elsewhere.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn fairness to Gov. Hochul, there is no question that legitimate concerns exist,\u201d Blackmon said. \u201cBut a one-year (or indefinite) moratorium is a blunt instrument. The fracking experience shows that once development is paused on precautionary grounds, political momentum often locks the restriction in place, even as neighboring jurisdictions capture the benefits. New Yorkers should not have to choose between affordable energy and economic opportunity. A far more productive solution would be for Hochul and other state officials to suck it up and do the hard work of ensuring efficient development instead of hiding behind a moratorium.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For the American Enterprise Institute, James Pethokoukis argued that the policy reveals the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aei.org\/economics\/new-yorks-data-center-moratorium-shows-the-continuing-power-of-americas-stagnationist-activist-groups\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u201ccontinuing power of America\u2019s stagnationist activist groups.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are unable, as we have been for a half century, to sufficiently overcome the forces of Down Wing anti-progress and stagnation \u2014 NIMBYs, radical environmentalists, or simply ideological degrowthers \u2014 to solve big problems, such as the scarcity of clean energy,\u201d Pethokoukis wrote. \u201cIt\u2019s quite plausible New York Governor Kathy Hochul\u2019s decision to effectively ban construction of large data centers for up to a year will give considerable encouragement to those wishing to replicate the action elsewhere\u2026 Clearly the anti-data center movement is gaining ground, and that was true even before the New York permitting pause.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDespite all the talk about the escalating power needs of AI infrastructure, it\u2019s now obvious that AI optimists have been underpricing the social license issue. Specifically, how hard those aforementioned Down Wing forces will fight to keep their dominant position by exaggerating issues of electricity prices and water usage as their vectors,\u201d Pethokoukis said. \u201cFor these activists, the real issue is their dislike of techno-capitalism, as much as it is disdain for nuclear-powered AI data centers. Even if these data centers are all powered by small modular nuclear reactors and recycle all their water, the activist opposition will continue.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>My take.<\/p>\n<p>Ari Weitzman<\/p>\n<p>Managing Editor<\/p>\n<p>        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Ari.jpg\" alt=\"Air Weitzman\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" style=\"width:48px;height:48px;background:linear-gradient(0deg,rgba(214,0,122,0.05) 0%,rgba(214,0,122,0.05) 100%);background-blend-mode:normal,luminosity;border-radius:4px;object-fit:cover;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>      Most people \u2014 myself included \u2014 are imposing their existing positions onto this order before engaging with it.I think data centers are unfairly maligned and are beaten up as a proxy for artificial intelligence.New York\u2019s one-year moratorium won\u2019t do anything about AI development, and it\u2019s likely to have a net negative effect.<\/p>\n<p>Reminder: This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment on the website or reply to this email.<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t know a single person who wants data centers in their backyard. They are loud, unsightly, energy-hungry facilities that can also put <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/technology\/2026\/07\/how-much-water-data-centers-use\/687934\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">demands on water<\/a> services and roads. It\u2019s very easy to extrapolate a basic stance on Gov. Hochul\u2019s executive order from there: data center bad, law against data center good.<\/p>\n<p>The actual opinions aren\u2019t nearly so primitive, but that <a href=\"https:\/\/newrepublic.com\/article\/213202\/anti-data-center-movement-maga-marjorie-taylor-greene?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">truly is the shape<\/a> of many of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/opinion\/columnist\/2026\/07\/16\/new-york-ai-data-center-moratorium-hochul\/90918402007\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">arguments in support<\/a> of New York\u2019s one-year moratorium. Examine your own response here for a second \u2014 if you support this policy, did you soberly arrive at that position after reading the executive order and weighing the pros and cons, or did you cheer as soon as you read the headline and find that everything you learned since has somehow fit with your original stance?<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll flip the question on myself. Did I already come to my conclusion on this before I read about the story?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Before she graduated from Tangle, Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth and I <a href=\"https:\/\/www.readtangle.com\/should-we-build-more-data-centers-pro-con\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">debated<\/a> this exact question, and I took the position that we should not be slowing down data center construction. I\u2019m coming into this issue with my own biases against the executive order \u2014 I believe that the environmental and water-use impacts of data centers are largely exaggerated; that most people who oppose data centers rely daily on the digital services they provide; and that we will all benefit from new, more efficient facilities. I\u2019m nervous about any energy-intensive megaprojects in the Southwest (where water is scarce and cooling is expensive), but in general, I\u2019m in favor of building more advanced \u2014 and more efficient \u2014 data centers. I articulated my position in April like this:\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The same logic that goes into running and maintaining landfills goes into building and leveraging giant data centers: They\u2019re unsightly and you definitely wouldn\u2019t want to live next to one, but their environmental impacts are frequently overstated \u2014 and you also wouldn\u2019t want to live without them.<\/p>\n<p>My initial, gut-level reaction to Hochul\u2019s order was only slightly more evolved than the response I mocked above: data center more good than bad, law against data center more bad than good. But could that be wrong?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Broadly speaking, the actual text of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.governor.ny.gov\/executive-order\/no-62-establishing-temporary-moratorium-data-centers-new-york-while-state-develops?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Executive Order 62<\/a> dictates two things: 1) The Department of Public Service will complete a review on the environmental impacts of constructing large data centers, \u201cincluding energy demand, water use and quality, air quality, disproportionate impacts on disadvantaged communities, and noise levels.\u201d 2) The Department of Environmental Conservation will pause for one year \u201cany discretionary permit, approval, license, or similar form of permission for the construction or expansion of a data center.\u201d The order also directs state agencies to publish recommendations for construction, but that\u2019s the gist \u2014 a halt, and a review.<\/p>\n<p>Right away, I can\u2019t help but notice the similarities between this and the hated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.housingaffordabilityinstitute.org\/policy-center\/environmental-nimbyism\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">environmental impact report<\/a>, a well intended tool weaponized by NIMBYs to slow, delay, and eventually block new developments (often housing) in their neighborhoods. Obviously, building to provide shelter for human beings is not the same as building to provide shelter for server racks, but apartment buildings and data centers are both resources that people \u2014 even those who aren\u2019t talking to Claude or ChatGPT daily \u2014 use. Despite Gov. Hochul\u2019s insistence to the contrary, I have a hard time believing that this is more than a delay tactic that will beget more delay tactics.<\/p>\n<p>What directives in this order are actually novel? New York\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/dec.ny.gov\/regulatory\/permits-licenses\/seqr?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">State Environmental Quality Review Act<\/a> already requires an environmental impact report for any project that could have potentially significant adverse impacts to localities. Municipalities <a href=\"https:\/\/www.noccog.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Reference-Guide-for-Municipal-Boards-final-with-PB.pdf?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">already require<\/a> major infrastructure projects to go through their planning boards for approval. The state\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/dec.ny.gov\/environmental-protection\/water\/water-quantity\/water-withdrawal-permits-reporting?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Water Resource Law<\/a> already requires \u201call non-agricultural water withdrawal systems with the capacity to withdraw 100,000 gallons per day or more\u201d to apply to the state for permits. The New York Independent System Operator <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nyiso.com\/interconnections?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">already mandates<\/a> an interconnection study for any project with a large electricity draw. And what more will the New York Department of Public Service tell us after a year of studying the impacts of data centers that <a href=\"https:\/\/hsph.harvard.edu\/news\/analyzing-air-pollution-health-economic-risks-from-ai-data-centers\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">university<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/stpp.fordschool.umich.edu\/sites\/stpp\/files\/2025-07\/stpp-data-centers-2025.pdf?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">studies<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nlyte.com\/microsite\/sustainability-fundamental-measures\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">tech companies<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/articles\/turning-the-data-center-boom-into-long-term-local-prosperity\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">think tanks<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncelenviro.org\/issue\/data-centers\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">environmental lobbies<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/crs-product\/R48646?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">congressional reports<\/a> haven\u2019t already discovered?<\/p>\n<p>The thing that should really get a developmental pause and broad review \u2014 the thing data centers are a proxy for \u2014 is artificial intelligence. Data centers have existed since the dawn of the internet, but most of us only started to talk about them <a href=\"https:\/\/trends.google.com\/explore?q=data%20centers&amp;date=all&amp;geo=US&amp;ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">in the past year<\/a> as they\u2019ve grown to service a technology scaling <a href=\"https:\/\/action.deloitte.com\/insight\/4982\/as-ai-rewires-tech-will-consumer-demand-match-growth?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">well ahead<\/a> of consumer demand and far past its creators\u2019 ability to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfr.org\/articles\/artificial-intelligence-is-facing-a-crisis-of-control-and-the-industry-knows-it?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">prepare for its safe usage<\/a>. It can sometimes feel like we\u2019re being asked to shut up and let the slop wash over us \u2014 just download the app, just use the AI-integrated service chatbot, just let Skynet move in next door, just dumbly smile and let the bot do all the thinking.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But the governor of New York doesn\u2019t have the authority to issue a moratorium on AI development. What she can do instead is signal opposition to the physical proxy for it. And since that proxy also happens to be <a href=\"https:\/\/pluribusnews.com\/news-and-events\/data-centers-plunge-in-popularity-as-energy-costs-rise\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">broadly unpopular<\/a> (one wonders how \u201cmunicipal dump\u201d polls in popularity contests), passing a redundant executive order signaling opposition to it is politically advantageous.<\/p>\n<p>Conveniently, I\u2019ve wound up with the same opinion I had when I first read this executive order, which gives me pause. Maybe I\u2019m wrong here. I\u2019m no AI <a href=\"https:\/\/www.readtangle.com\/the-ai-debate-accelerationists-vs-doomers-with-andy-mills\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">accelerationist<\/a>, and I won\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/15\/opinion\/hochuls-data-center-ban-is-a-loss-for-new-york-and-a-win-for-china\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">weep for the delays<\/a> in advancement this executive order may (but probably won\u2019t) usher in. What\u2019s the most likely way this order could benefit the state of New York in ways that existing laws and studies can\u2019t?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In theory, the one-year moratorium could allow the tech industry time to review whether public demand is actually going to merit the massive scale it\u2019s currently building out. Then, if (and when) the AI fervor dies down, some poor town won\u2019t be left supporting a massive unused boondoggle. But that isn\u2019t likely to happen \u2014 if AI demand dies, older data centers will probably go offline before new ones \u2014 and it wasn\u2019t the rationale behind Gov. Hochul\u2019s order.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t think this is effective policy. If anything, Hochul\u2019s order will likely push companies that were considering building in New York into other, much more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/business\/energy-oil\/phoenix-is-a-data-center-meccaand-test-case-for-how-to-pay-for-ais-power-needs-c671056f?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">resource-strained regions<\/a> of the country. I\u2019d probably be singing a different tune if Arizona or Nevada had passed a similar law, but I struggle to see a way New York pausing development of data centers for a year is a net good.<\/p>\n<p>Staff dissent \u2014 Senior Editor Will Kaback: I\u2019ll start by ceding a few points to Ari. He\u2019s right that this executive order resembles a NIMBY-style \u201cenvironmental impact report\u201d that could prove hollow and fruitless. Separately, many aspects of data centers this review will explore have already been studied at length, and Gov. Hochul is almost certainly issuing this order as much for political expedience as prudent policy. Lastly, the order could push new construction out of New York and into states navigating far more severe resource challenges.<\/p>\n<p>Still, I disagree that this move will be a net negative. For one, New York\u2019s State Environmental Quality Review Act doesn\u2019t bar approval for projects found to have a negative environmental impact, so under pre-existing law, new data centers <a href=\"https:\/\/extapps.dec.ny.gov\/docs\/permits_ej_operations_pdf\/seqrhandbook.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=152\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">could still be built<\/a> even if the review flagged significant concerns. A one-year moratorium allows for a true pause. Second, the benefit of the environmental study isn\u2019t uncovering new findings about data centers\u2019 impacts, but informing a framework that state agencies can rely on in future permitting. Questions about acceptable levels of water use, energy use, indirect emissions, and other considerations won\u2019t be left to individual agencies to squabble over; instead, a common standard can be established, perhaps making construction more efficient in the long run.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Finally, even accepting that data center opposition is mostly a proxy for anti-AI sentiment, I think the order\u2019s provision for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.governor.ny.gov\/executive-order\/no-62-establishing-temporary-moratorium-data-centers-new-york-while-state-develops?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Developing%20a%20Community%20Investment%20Framework\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cCommunity Investment Framework\u201d<\/a> to aid municipalities in negotiations with developers addresses valid concerns about data centers\u2019 potential to trample on small communities that often lack the power or resources to push back on unwanted building.<\/p>\n<p>All that said, I\u2019m taking Hochul at her word that this will only be a one-year pause. If the moratorium is extended \u2014 or key provisions of the order aren\u2019t enacted \u2014 I\u2019ll stop seeing the trade-offs of this move as worthwhile.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Take the survey: What do you think of Hochul\u2019s order? <a href=\"https:\/\/interrobang.vercel.app\/survey\/b8d911dc-2184-441a-8089-3e805d1cbd23?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Let us know<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Disagree? That\u2019s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we\u2019ll consider publishing your feedback.<\/p>\n<p>Under the radar.<\/p>\n<p>The Department of Education recently finalized a new metric to determine the effectiveness of college programs, which it will begin testing in 2027. The metric, called the \u201cdo no harm\u201d test, will compare the earnings of college students four years after graduation with the earnings of adults holding only high school diplomas. If a bachelor\u2019s program\u2019s median graduate does not earn more than a median high school graduate, it will fail the test and the Department of Education could revoke access to federal loans and, in rare cases, the Pell Grant. The first round of penalties under the new test could begin as early as 2028. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidehighered.com\/news\/government\/student-aid-policy\/2026\/07\/20\/how-soon-could-colleges-lose-loan-access?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Inside Higher Ed has the story<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Protect against rising vet costs with pet insurance<\/p>\n<p>The cost of veterinary services has been rising recently, with some common surgical procedures costing up to $7,000. Pet insurance can help cover accidents, illnesses and even routine care, with some plans reimbursing up to 90% of costs. <\/p>\n<p>Money.com\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/api.wellput.io\/v1\/cm?cmid=981146mr2lzevr&amp;tid=164&amp;s1=v2-r756810-p981146-c45863&amp;s2=Tangle&amp;s3=&amp;s4=null&amp;ref=readtangle.com\" class=\"cta-link-color\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Best Pet Insurance list<\/a> can help you find affordable coverage starting at just $10 a month so you can focus on what matters most \u2014 your furry friend\u2019s well-being.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/api.wellput.io\/v1\/cm?cmid=981146mr2lzevr&amp;tid=164&amp;s1=v2-r756810-p981146-c45863&amp;s2=Tangle&amp;s3=&amp;s4=null&amp;ref=readtangle.com\" class=\"cta-link-color\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Get a personalized pet insurance quote today and save thousands on costly vet bills<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Numbers.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.datacentermap.com\/usa\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">4,556.<\/a> The number of data centers in the United States as of July 2026.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.datacentermap.com\/usa\/new-york\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">134.<\/a> The number of data centers in New York.<a href=\"https:\/\/programs.com\/resources\/data-center-statistics\/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Between%20now%20and%202030%2C%20companies%20worldwide%20are%20expected%20to%20invest%20nearly%20%247%20trillion%20in%20building%20and%20upgrading%20data%20centers.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">$7 trillion.<\/a> The projected worldwide investment in building and upgrading data centers between 2026 and 2030.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/irei.com\/publications\/article\/cities-regions-highest-concentration-data-centers\/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20average%20full%2Dscale%20data%20center%20is%20100%2C000%20square%20feet%20in%20size%20and%20runs%20around%20100%2C000%20servers%2C%20which%20are%20essentially%20powerful%20computers.%20Servers%20are%20often%20stored%20in%20racks%2C%20which%20is%20like%20a%20cabinet%20for%20multiple%20servers.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">100,000.<\/a> The approximate size, in square feet, of the average data center, as of 2023.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2025\/06\/20\/tax-breaks-for-tech-giants-data-centers-mean-less-income-for-states.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Of%20those%2C%2037%20have%20passed%20legislation%20specifically%20granting%20sales%20tax%20exemptions%20for%20data%20centers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">37.<\/a> The number of states with sales tax exemptions specifically for data centers.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/short-reads\/2026\/04\/13\/most-new-data-centers-in-the-us-are-coming-to-rural-areas\/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=67%25%20of%20planned%20data%20centers%20are%20in%20rural%20areas%2C%20while%2087%25%20of%20existing%20data%20centers%20are%20in%20urban%20ones.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">67%.<\/a> The percentage of new data centers planned for rural areas, according to Pew Research.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/short-reads\/2026\/04\/13\/most-new-data-centers-in-the-us-are-coming-to-rural-areas\/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=67%25%20of%20planned%20data%20centers%20are%20in%20rural%20areas%2C%20while%2087%25%20of%20existing%20data%20centers%20are%20in%20urban%20ones.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">87%.<\/a> The percentage of existing data centers that are located in urban areas. One year ago today we covered The Wall Street Journal\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.readtangle.com\/trump-epstein-2003-birthday-card-wsj\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">report on Trump and Epstein<\/a>.The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter was Zohran Mamdani\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsnationnow.com\/politics\/mamdani-arresting-netanyahu-visits-nyc-un-general-assembly\/?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">comments about arresting Benjamin Netanyahu in New York City<\/a>.\u00a0Nothing to do with politics: Three women\u2019s world records were just set at <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/lumberjack-world-championships-women-4d9ae78914f02edb8162b16b853088ba?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the Lumberjack World Championships in Wisconsin<\/a>.Our last survey: 2,615 readers responded to our survey on President Trump firing two commissioners of the Election Assistance Commission, with 46% saying they are highly concerned by the firings. \u201cSome things should remain non-partisan and safe from money influence,\u201d one respondent said. \u201cWhatever it takes to make sure elections are secure,\u201d said another.<img class=\"kg-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1344\"  \/>Have a nice day.<\/p>\n<p>Alyssa Curtis grew up in a family that relied on weekly trips to food pantries. As a kid, Curtis noticed a lack of quality in the items given out for free, and as an adult decided to come up with a fix. She and her husband, a carpenter, set up their first food pantry last fall. Curtis posted a video of the building process on social media, and after months of supportive messages, they started building more. In May, \u201cShame Free Collective\u201d was approved as a nonprofit and has since built over 20 pantries to supply residents in and around Lowell, Michigan, with medicine, dog food, cereal, diapers, rice, and mac-and-cheese. \u201cI\u2019ve heard of a lot of moms skipping dinner so that their kids can have food in their bellies,\u201d Curtis said. \u201cThat\u2019s what really moved my spirit to do something about creating access.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.today.com\/food\/people\/michigan-shame-free-pantries-families-need-groceries-rcna353333?ref=readtangle.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">TODAY has the story<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hello again! This is Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, back from paternity leave, and I hope you built up&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":301910,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[9,11,10,49,51,50],"class_list":["post-301909","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-headlines","tag-new-york-news","tag-new-york-state","tag-new-york-state-headlines","tag-new-york-state-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/301909","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=301909"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/301909\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/301910"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=301909"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=301909"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=301909"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}