Clay town board to weigh battery storage projects, AI/data center moratorium at meeting
The Town of Clay Town Board is considering a proposed temporary moratorium on large-scale computing facilities, including data centers and AI operations. The board will also hold public hearings on multiple battery energy storage projects proposed by Nexamp Inc. and Carson Power, LLC., which involve Tesla Megapack technology and connection to National Grid.
The Town of Clay Town Board in New York is preparing to address several crucial land use proposals at its upcoming meeting, most notably a proposed temporary moratorium on large-scale computing facilities. This measure, identified as Local Law No. 6 of 2026, aims to pause new applications for zone changes and special permits related to data centers, artificial intelligence computing facilities, and cryptocurrency mining operations for up to 12 months. The proposed moratorium would allow the town to conduct a comprehensive study and evaluate the necessity of additional regulations for these high-intensity computing uses.
In parallel, the board is also scheduled to conduct public hearings for three distinct battery energy storage system proposals. Nexamp Inc. has submitted two separate projects, one on Wetzel Road and another on Long Branch Road, both slated to integrate Tesla Megapack technology into the National Grid distribution system. A third proposal from Carson Power, LLC. involves a 12-unit battery energy storage system on Goguen Drive. All these energy storage applications have been under review for several months, undergoing multiple postponements and evaluations by the town's Planning Board.