New York Bans AI Data Centers Using 50+ Megawatts for One Year on July 14

On July 14, 2026, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order banning new "hyperscaler" AI data centers consuming 50 megawatts or more of power for one year, marking the first statewide data center moratorium in the U.S.

The move poses challenges for Bitcoin miners who recently pivoted to AI infrastructure providers. Companies including IREN and TeraWulf have signed multi-billion-dollar agreements with tech firms like Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Anthropic for AI capacity. Expansion of such operations now faces regulatory hurdles as New York's moratorium illustrates broader constraints on data center development.