Petition opposing Lansing AI data center garners over 20,000 signatures
A proposed AI data center in Lansing, New York, by TeraWulf is facing significant backlash, with over 20,000 people signing a petition urging the Lansing Town Board to reject its application. Environmental advocates and local residents have raised concerns about potential pollution, water use, noise, and strain on the local electrical grid. The project also faces uncertainty due to a recently passed one-year statewide moratorium on data center permitting by the New York State Legislature, which is awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul's signature.
A proposed artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Lansing, New York, developed by TeraWulf, is facing strong opposition, as evidenced by a petition garnering over 20,000 signatures, including more than 17,000 from New York residents. The petition was delivered to the Lansing Town Board, requesting the rejection of TeraWulf's application, though Town Supervisor Ruth Groff stated the town currently has no response as a complete application has not been received.
Advocates, including John Dennis of Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now, expressed concerns about potential lake pollution from the site's history as a coal plant, inconsistent messaging on water use, and noise pollution. Dennis has also filed a lawsuit against TeraWulf and the Town Zoning Board of Appeals, calling for a full environmental impact statement. Additionally, there are worries about the data center's impact on the electrical grid, with the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) noting seven pending "large load" projects in the Tompkins County region, collectively drawing significant power.
The project's future is further complicated by a one-year moratorium on data center permitting recently passed by both houses of the New York State Legislature, introduced by Assemblyperson Anna Kelles and State Senator Lea Webb. This moratorium, if signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, could directly affect the Lansing development. TeraWulf executives, however, assert that New York already has robust environmental and zoning review processes in place.
Environmental groups are actively strategizing to ensure Governor Hochul signs the statewide moratorium as written. This is not the first time the Lansing project has faced a potential moratorium; a similar town-level moratorium was previously pulled after TeraWulf threatened litigation.