Potsdam town councilor suggests board consider its own moratorium on data centers
The Potsdam Town Board is considering a local moratorium on data center development due to concerns about the strain on the power grid. This consideration follows Governor Hochul's recent executive order enacting a statewide moratorium on new data center permits over 50MW for one year, while state agencies develop a comprehensive regulatory framework and conduct an environmental review.
Potsdam, New York – The Potsdam Town Board is actively considering a local moratorium on data center development, prompted by concerns regarding the strain on the power grid. During a recent town board meeting, Councilor Pat Brady informed the board about new information he learned from a New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) webinar, highlighting that aging fossil fuel plants are going offline while new generation power sources are not adequately replacing the lost capacity. Brady emphasized the grid's struggle to manage increased demand from both extreme weather and new data centers, suggesting a local pause in development to allow for further study. He has drafted a resolution for an August meeting agenda, which would necessitate a public hearing before a vote.
This local initiative follows Governor Kathleen C. Hochul's recent executive order, which enacted a first-of-its-kind statewide data center moratorium. The order mandates state regulatory agencies to temporarily halt new permit approvals for data center projects exceeding 50 megawatts for one year. During this period, state agencies are tasked with developing a comprehensive regulatory framework. Furthermore, Governor Hochul has directed the state Public Service Commission to conduct a broad environmental review of existing data centers' impacts on energy, land, and water usage. The article also briefly notes that a separate large-scale data center project in Massena, NY, has already faced local grassroots opposition.