Town of Danby Bans Data Centers and Crypto Mines

The Town of Danby, New York, has enacted a ban on data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities by amending its zoning code. At an April 7 meeting, the Danby town board voted unanimously to define these uses and then exclude them from all existing zones. Danby Zoning Officer Greg Hutnik read from Resolution 126, which stated that the town intends to ban data centers and crypto mines to protect residents and the environment from their known adverse impacts. Board member Zachary Larkins noted his long-standing concerns about the power and water consumption of such facilities, referencing a Google data center and a cryptomine in The Dalles, Oregon. The board also clarified the definition of a data center, adding that it applies to any facility using half a megawatt-hour or more per day. The new definitions were partially adopted from the Town of Dryden's zoning code, which was the first New York town to implement such a ban. In addition to the local ban, the Danby town board passed a resolution supporting a bill introduced in the New York state senate that would impose a statewide moratorium on issuing permits for new data centers. This move by Danby reflects growing local concerns, with the nearby Town of Trumansburg also discussing similar zoning updates and Lansing grappling with a proposed data center by TeraWulf.