New York town weighs crypto mining and AI data center ban
Plattsburgh, New York held a public hearing on a proposed temporary moratorium on land use for high-energy computing facilities, including AI data centers and cryptocurrency mining. The proposal would block approvals for operations using 300 kW or more for 12 months. Mayor Wendell Hughes and the common council heard public comments, but the moratorium had not yet been approved as of Tuesday. Another council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 17. The town previously became one of the first U.S. jurisdictions to ban Bitcoin mining in 2018 over electricity-cost concerns; that moratorium lasted 18 months. The new proposal comes as many crypto miners have shifted toward AI and high-performance computing because of rising power costs and weaker crypto economics.
