The state of New York will temporarily ban the construction of new large-scale data centers

Odaily reported that the office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated that she plans to sign an executive order on Tuesday, halting the construction of large-scale data centers for a maximum period of one year. The ban takes effect immediately and applies to data centers with an electricity consumption of 50 megawatts or more. This moratorium will buy the state time to develop data center regulations that are both environmentally friendly and capable of ensuring grid operation.

This move makes New York the latest state to address the infrastructure construction issues arising from the AI boom. No other state has previously implemented a similar moratorium. However, dozens of cities and counties across the United States have issued temporary bans on data center construction, and many states have proposed similar ban concepts. As data centers continue to be built across the country, more and more communities are opposing them, fueling the anti-AI movement.

Opponents argue that these data centers, which power artificial intelligence and computing systems, could overwhelm local electricity supplies and drive up residents' utility costs. Some voters have even attempted to recall politicians who support data center development. (Jin Shi)