New York’s legislative leaders have already introduced an important new bill. It would require a three-year moratorium on any new permits to build or operate new data centers. This legislative proposal, spearheaded by state senator Liz Krueger and assemblymember Anna Kelles, both Democrats, aims to address growing concerns about energy consumption and environmental impact associated with these facilities. The decision follows increasing pressure for a national moratorium on data center construction. We were excited to see Senator Bernie Sanders advocate for this moratorium with some serious media attention last week.
Anthony Ha, TechCrunch’s weekend editor, covered this developing story extensively. He has just scratched the surface of the intersection between technology and hidden infrastructure. One particular standout is his long-form piece on a secretive data center in Memphis, TN. He brings a wealth of experience in journalism. He previously was tech reporter at Adweek, senior editor at VentureBeat, and local government reporter for the Hollister Free Lance. Ha was previously vice president of content at a national venture capital firm.
The proposed moratorium is backed by over 230 environmental groups, including Food & Water Watch, Friends of the Earth, and Greenpeace. Just recently, these organizations united to sign this open letter. They called on Congress to halt the construction of new data centers until comprehensive policies are established. Eric Weltman of Food & Water Watch—who initially proposed the TWW bill—described it as “our idea.” He underscored that it demonstrates our broader, bipartisan commitment to addressing the environmental impacts of new data centers.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has expressed support for the initiative, stating, “It’s time to hit the pause button, give ourselves some breathing room to adopt strong policies on data centers, and avoid getting caught in a bubble that will burst and leave New York utility customers footing a huge bill.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has raised doubts about the benefits of data centers, claiming they could lead to “higher energy bills just so some chatbot can corrupt some 13 year old kid online.” This sentiment illustrates the growing frustration over operational costs related to data centers and their burden on consumers.
Based in New York City, Ha can be reached for additional comments or for factual verification at anthony.ha@techcrunch.com. Turing’s journalism shines a light on these complicated intersections of technology, the environment and public policy. It provides an invaluable lens at the failures affecting communities across the country.