Oneonta town board approves 12-month moratorium on AI data centers, crypto mining facilities

The Oneonta Town Board in New York has unanimously enacted a 12-month moratorium on the development of AI data centers and crypto mining facilities. The decision comes after more than a year of consistent pressure and concerns from local residents regarding the potential impacts of such developments. Residents began voicing their opposition over a year ago, particularly in response to a proposed data center project on County Road 9 by a company identified as Eco-Yotta. This opposition culminated in hundreds of residents attending town board meetings and submitting a petition with over 700 signatures urging officials to prevent these facilities from being built. Town Supervisor Will Rivera stated that the board's decision was directly influenced by this significant constituent input. Rivera affirmed that the board members are in agreement regarding the potential harm these data centers could cause to the community. He expressed the board's intention to address community concerns as quickly as possible, indicating a hope to implement a permanent ban on data centers following the conclusion of the 12-month moratorium.