Dryden Becomes First New York Town to Ban Data Centers

The Dryden town board has become the first New York town to ban data centers after passing a local law last month. The move comes as TeraWulf's proposed plans for a data center in the nearby town of Lansing advance. During the town board's Feb. 19 meeting, officials said the ban works by establishing data centers as a unique land use and not allowing them in any zones. The board cited concerns about energy use, environmental impact, and the experience of residents in the town of Lansing, where a data center project is underway, as reasons for the ban. After a public hearing where residents expressed support for the ban, the town board unanimously voted to pass the local law. The ban makes Dryden the first town in New York to prohibit data centers, a move that could set a precedent for other municipalities seeking to limit the growth of the data center industry in their communities.