Plattsburgh Weighs Crypto Mining and AI Data Center Ban

The town of Plattsburgh in New York state is considering a temporary ban on land use for certain high-energy computing facilities, including crypto mining and AI data centers. The proposed moratorium would halt approvals for operations requiring over 300 kilowatts of power for 12 months.

In a public hearing, residents expressed concerns about the cost of electricity associated with these operations. Plattsburgh was one of the first jurisdictions in the US to ban Bitcoin mining in 2018, and this moratorium lasted 18 months.

Many crypto mining companies have pivoted to focus on AI and high-performance computing due to rising power costs and falling token prices. The proposed moratorium is scheduled for another meeting on September 17.