Opponents deliver 17,000-signature petition against proposed Lansing data center
Opponents delivered a petition with over 17,000 signatures to Lansing officials, protesting a proposed TeraWulf AI data center on Cayuga Lake. Residents and advocacy groups voiced concerns about environmental impacts, electric grid pressure, and water usage. The project is currently under review by the Town of Lansing Planning Board, with continued opposition planned.
A significant petition opposing a proposed TeraWulf artificial intelligence data center in Lansing, New York, was delivered to local officials on Wednesday evening. More than 17,000 New Yorkers signed the petition, expressing strong opposition to the 300-megawatt facility planned for a former power plant site on the shores of Cayuga Lake.
Local residents and advocacy groups, including FLX Strong, Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now, Sustainable Finger Lakes, and No Data Center FLX, gathered outside Lansing Town Hall. They highlighted concerns about the project's potential environmental, economic, and quality-of-life impacts. Specific issues raised included the clearing of over 40 acres of forested land, significant construction noise, increased strain on the electric grid, and impacts on wetlands and wildlife habitat.
Organizers also voiced apprehension regarding the data center's water usage, estimating up to 700,000 gallons of lake water per day for cooling during hot weather, and the installation of six diesel-powered backup generators. They noted these plans appear to deviate from earlier project descriptions. Opponents also cited a recent study on AI data center heat impacts and warnings from state grid operators about future electric system reliability.
The proposed facility is currently under review by the Town of Lansing Planning Board. Opposition groups plan to continue their campaign, with a larger public meeting scheduled for June 25 in Ithaca.