Plattsburgh Considers Crypto Mining and AI Data Center Ban Amid Energy Concerns
The town of Plattsburgh in New York state is considering a temporary ban on land use for high-energy computing facilities, including AI data centers and crypto mining. A public hearing was held to discuss a proposed law that would impose a short-term moratorium on operations requiring over 300 kilowatts of power for the next 12 months.
The move comes after Plattsburgh became one of the first jurisdictions in the US to ban Bitcoin mining in 2018, due to resident concerns about electricity costs. The previous moratorium lasted 18 months and allowed companies to pivot their operations towards AI and high-performance computing amid rising power costs and falling token prices.
The proposed law would prevent new approvals for facilities requiring over 300 kW of power until the end of the 12-month period. While details about the proposal's status are scarce, reports suggest that Plattsburgh Mayor Wendell Hughes has not yet approved the moratorium.