NY Responsible Data Center Development Act (passed, awaiting Governor)
New York Responsible Data Center Development Act (S.10642 / A.11560) — One-Year Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium
New York · N.Y. S.10642 / A.11560 (2025–2026); The Responsible Data Center Development Act
- Status
- Proposed / pending
- Applies to
- Developers and operators of data centers over 20 MW (and over 5 MW for efficiency/labor provisions) seeking New York permits
- Enforced by
- NY Department of Environmental Conservation; Public Service Commission (rate classes); local permitting authorities
New York's legislature passed a bill that would put a one-year pause on permits for the largest new data centers (peak load over 20 megawatts), require a public hearing before any future data center is approved, order a statewide study of data centers' energy and water use and pollution, create separate (higher) electric and water rate classes for big data centers so their costs aren't shifted onto households, and set labor standards for building them. If Gov. Hochul signs it, it would be the first statewide data center moratorium in the country.
Who is protected: New York residents and utility ratepayers in communities near proposed large data centers
Legal detail
The Responsible Data Center Development Act (S.10642 / A.11560) imposes a one-year moratorium on new permits for data centers with a peak load over 20 MW; requires a local public hearing before future permits; directs the Department of Environmental Conservation to produce a statewide environmental impact report (count, energy/water usage, pollution, e-waste); creates dedicated electric and water rate classes for >20 MW facilities; sets energy-efficiency goals for >5 MW facilities; establishes a host-community benefit program for >20 MW operators; and sets prevailing-wage/apprenticeship and US iron-and-steel labor standards for >5 MW construction. Cleared both chambers June 4, 2026; awaiting Governor's signature.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | New York |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Citation | N.Y. S.10642 / A.11560 (2025–2026); The Responsible Data Center Development Act |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| Bill text | NY NY Responsible Data Center Development Act (passed, awaiting Governor) — official record (www.nysenate.gov) |
More AI rules in New York
- NYDFS CL 7 (2024) — Insurance AI Anti-Discrimination · In effect
- NY Hochul EO — Statewide Data Center Moratorium (2026) · In effect
- New York Stealth Crawler Prohibition Act (2026) · Proposed / pending
- New York SAFE for Kids Act final rules (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- RealPage v. James — NY algorithmic rent ban enjoined (2026) · Blocked / in litigation
- NY PSC utility AI inquiry (Case 26-M-0552) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
- Superior WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Dane County WI Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- Madison WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Manitowoc County WI Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Dayton OH data center moratorium (180-day, Apr 2026) · In effect
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