New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has made the first US state to halt construction of large new data centres, placing a one-year moratorium on anything drawing 50 megawatts or more. This decision was made due to concerns that these buildings are exacerbating household bills, draining water, and impacting towns hosting them. The state's Department of Environmental Conservation will not issue any discretionary permits during this period. Meanwhile, state officials have been told to produce a Generic Environmental Impact Statement to ensure consistency in data centres' construction and operation. The ban will lift once these standards are finalised. The decision was not signed as a signature on a bill, but was instead pushed towards a higher threshold by campaigners who had spent six weeks demanding her signature.