Plattsburgh Weighs Ban on High-Energy Facilities Amid Energy Concerns

The town of Plattsburgh in New York state is considering a temporary ban on operations that consume high amounts of energy, including crypto mining and AI data centers. The proposal would impose a moratorium on land use for facilities requiring more than 300 kilowatts (kW) for 12 months.

At a recent public hearing, Plattsburgh Mayor Wendell Hughes and the common council heard from residents about the potential ban. While no decision has been made yet, the town has a history of restricting cryptocurrency mining operations. In 2018, Plattsburgh became one of the first jurisdictions in the US to outright ban Bitcoin (BTC) mining due to concerns over electricity costs.

Crypto mining companies have been shifting their focus to AI and high-performance computing amid rising power costs and falling token prices. The proposed moratorium would affect operations that consume more than 300 kW, a threshold that could impact various industries beyond crypto mining.