Town of Manlius Board approves 1-year moratorium on data centers, crypto mining

The Manlius Town Board in New York unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data processing centers and commercial cryptocurrency mining operations. The decision, voted 7-0 on Wednesday night, stems from concerns raised by board members regarding the impact of large data centers on community affordability, local water supply, and environmental quality. Officials highlighted rising utility bills and power outages in Central New York, emphasizing the need for the town to establish its own development terms to regulate future projects.

Nationally, data centers currently consume about 4% of U.S. energy production, a figure projected to double by 2030, according to town officials. New York state alone has 28 large data centers in the pipeline, which would demand nearly 10,000 megawatts from an already strained power grid. Additionally, these facilities are known for their substantial water consumption, potentially billions of gallons annually, and for generating noise and light pollution.

This moratorium is part of a larger initiative by Manlius to revise its development regulations, including a comprehensive update to its zoning code and a study of future development in the Genesee-Burdick Corridor. Manlius joins other Central New York municipalities, such as Lysander and Clay, which have also implemented or considered similar pauses on data center development. Furthermore, state lawmakers have passed a one-year moratorium on data center permits statewide, awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul's signature.