US Municipalities and New York State Impose Data Center Pauses

Multiple US jurisdictions are restricting the growth of data centers through moratoriums and new regulatory frameworks. Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order on July 14, 2026, pausing data center permits in New York for up to one year to protect the state's energy grid and environment. This state-level action coincides with a one-year moratorium declared by the Town of Brookhaven, specifically impacting WF Industrial's proposed $1 billion Brookhaven Digital Infrastructure Facility in Yaphank.

Other municipalities are adopting similar restrictions. The Topeka City Council approved a 12-month moratorium on July 14, while the Valparaiso City Council in Indiana voted 6-1 to remove the expiration date from its own moratorium to allow for extended study of the industry. In New York, the Town of York held a public hearing to consider a similar one-year pause, though officials noted there are currently no active proposals for the town.

Some regions are pursuing regulation over total bans. In Penn Township, Pennsylvania, zoning officer Philip Mangis has drafted an ordinance modeled after other Pennsylvania municipalities, with a public hearing expected in August. Similarly, the Tooele County Planning Commission in Utah scheduled a July 22 hearing to establish a specific land use ordinance for data center facilities. Developers, such as those at WF Industrial, argue these pauses are short-sighted responses to misinformation that threaten significant job creation and tax revenue.