US Local and State Governments Implement Data Center Moratoriums

Local and state governments across the United States are increasingly implementing moratoriums on new data center construction to evaluate infrastructure and environmental impacts. In New York, state lawmakers plan to pass a one-year pause on large-scale projects before the session ends. If signed by Kathy Hochul, this would be the first statewide moratorium of its kind in the US, requiring developers to fund community benefits and transition to renewable energy.

Similar restrictive actions are appearing at the municipal level. In Colorado, Denver has enacted a one-year pause, and Broomfield preliminarily approved an 18-month moratorium. Maine towns Westbrook and Brunswick passed 180-day pauses, following Governor Janet Mills' decision to veto a statewide moratorium bill. In Michigan, the Flint City Council is considering a 12-month suspension to study health and water risks.

Opposing this trend, Governor Mark Gordon of Wyoming signed an executive order on June 3 to attract data centers through a framework called the Wyoming Way. While some regions view these facilities as a drain on power and water, Wyoming is positioning itself as a leader in the digital economy, exemplified by the recommended approval of a Prometheus Hyperscale AI center in Uinta County.