Plattsburgh Considers 12-Month Ban on High-Energy Computing Facilities

The city of Plattsburgh in upstate New York is considering implementing a temporary ban on high-energy computing facilities, including cryptocurrency mining and AI data centers. The proposal would freeze approvals for any facility consuming over 300 kilowatts for 12 months.

This isn't the first time the town has taken steps to regulate energy-intensive industries. In 2018, Plattsburgh became one of the first jurisdictions in the US to ban Bitcoin mining outright, after residents complained about increased electricity costs. That ban remained in place for 18 months.

The current proposal arrives as many cryptocurrency mining companies have shifted toward AI and high-performance computing due to stable revenue streams from token prices falling and operating costs climbing. This pivot has extended the energy footprint of these facilities beyond BTC mining alone.