New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed Executive Order 62 on July 14, 2026. The order pauses discretionary state environmental permits that are not already complete for new hyperscale data centers while the Department of Public Service prepares a Generic Environmental Impact Statement.
What the order does
- The pause can last up to one year.
- It applies to specified discretionary state environmental permits that have not already been completed.
- It directs the Department of Public Service to study grid, energy, environmental, and community effects through a statewide environmental review.
- It directs Empire State Development to develop a community-investment framework within 60 days.
- It calls for consideration of a grid-acceleration fund and additional energy funding.
- The administration says it will pursue repeal of applicable data-center sales-tax exemptions.
What it does not do
This is an executive permitting pause, not a statute prohibiting all data center development. It does not revoke permits already complete, and it does not automatically cancel projects. Local land-use rules and approvals remain separate. Project-level effects will depend on the permits each development still needs.
The state calls the action a moratorium; Server Country classifies it more narrowly as a statewide executive pause on incomplete discretionary environmental permits. That distinction matters when comparing it with local zoning moratoria, legislative bans, or project cancellations.
What to watch
The first near-term deadline is the 60-day community-investment framework. The environmental review, possible grid-acceleration mechanism, energy funding, and proposed tax-exemption repeal will each require separate public records or legislation before they should be described as final policy.