Lansing Town Board Moves Toward Banning Data Centers Amid Opposition to TeraWulf Project
The Lansing Town Board agreed to have its attorney draft a local law banning data centers, responding to strong community opposition to TeraWulf’s proposed 150-megawatt facility at the former Cayuga Power Plant. The proposal comes as Gov. Kathy Hochul’s statewide data center moratorium pauses permitting while New York evaluates energy, water, environmental and economic impacts.
The Lansing Town Board moved toward banning data centers after a contentious public meeting focused on TeraWulf’s proposed 150-megawatt facility at the former Cayuga Power Plant site on Cayuga Lake. Four of the five board members supported asking the town attorney to draft a ban, while residents cited concerns about water quality, noise, energy demand, climate change and the site’s coal-ash landfill.
The discussion followed Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive order imposing a statewide permitting pause while New York regulators prepare an environmental impact statement. TeraWulf Vice President of Project Development Pace Ralli urged officials to keep reviewing the project, saying it should be evaluated through the existing planning process, but he was met with boos from much of the audience.
Town officials said they expect either a ban or moratorium could lead to litigation. The town is already dealing with legal actions involving environmental organizations and a petition seeking the removal of Deputy Supervisor Joe Wetmore, while attorneys for TeraWulf and the Cayuga Operating Company have threatened legal action over a potential local moratorium. Tompkins County Legislator Mike Sigler questioned how the town would replace the project’s expected tax revenue and suggested a community benefits agreement as an alternative.