Lansing Town Board moves toward data center ban
The Lansing Town Board is moving toward a permanent local ban on data centers after 36 residents urged officials to act. The proposed ban follows opposition to TeraWulf's planned facility at the former Cayuga Power Plant and comes while New York has paused state data center permits for up to a year.
The Lansing Town Board is considering a local law that would permanently ban data center development in the town. The discussion followed a Sept. 29 meeting at which 36 speakers raised concerns about noise, light, water use, pollution, impacts on wildlife and higher utility costs. Supervisor Ruth Groff and several board members said they were leaning toward a ban, while board member Judy Drake raised concerns about limiting economic development.
The proposed action follows a year of conflict over TeraWulf's plan to develop a data center at the former Cayuga Power Plant. Lansing previously abandoned a proposed one-year moratorium after threats and litigation involving the town, a board member and the zoning appeals board. Separately, Gov. Kathy Hochul imposed a state pause on issuing data center permits for up to a year while the New York State Department of Public Safety prepares an environmental impact statement.