New Hampshire and New York Officials Clash Over Data Center Moratoriums

State leaders in the Northeast are grappling with the energy and environmental demands of hyperscale data centers, leading to conflicting policy efforts in New Hampshire and New York.

Kelly Ayotte, Governor of New Hampshire, proposed a statewide moratorium on data centers to prevent electricity costs from rising for residents and businesses. She argues the state lacks the energy capacity to support these facilities. However, Michael Vose, sponsor of House Bill 672, contends a moratorium is unnecessary. Vose suggests the administration promote off-grid electricity options, which allow providers to sell power directly to customers without using the public grid, specifically citing a rumored 350-megawatt project in Bow associated with Granite Shore Power.

In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul previously issued an executive order making New York the first state to pause state-level permitting for new data centers for up to one year to evaluate residential and environmental protections. Despite this state-level stance, the Massena town board recently voted 3-2 against implementing its own six-month moratorium. Local supporters in Massena argued that data centers could revitalize the depressed local economy, while opponents raised concerns over water usage and high energy consumption.