Lysander board approves six-month data center moratorium; residents speak out against project proposal

The Lysander Town Board has unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on data center development following a public hearing. The decision was made in response to significant community opposition against a proposed industrial-sized computer cloud center, as residents filled the house ready to push back. The moratorium aims to provide local leaders and residents with more time to thoroughly review the potential impacts of such a project on the community. Despite the board's swift announcement of the moratorium, residents remained passionate in their opposition. Concerns raised during the hearing encompassed a range of issues, including environmental impacts, excessive power consumption, the preservation of community character, noise pollution, heat island effects, and substantial water usage for cooling towers, which could lead to increased emissions. One resident expressed satisfaction with the moratorium but hoped for a longer pause than the approved six months, emphasizing the need for more time to learn about the project's implications. The moratorium is scheduled to conclude on November 7th, at which point the Town Board will revisit the issue.