New York Halts Large Data Center Approvals as Gallup Poll Finds 71% of Americans Oppose Local Projects

New York has become the first U.S. state to impose a year-long freeze on approvals for large data centers, a move that lands as a new Gallup survey shows 71% of Americans oppose the construction of AI data centers in their own communities. The state's moratorium, adopted in July 2026, applies to new facilities drawing 50 megawatts or more and is aimed at easing mounting pressure on the electricity grid and local water supplies.