The small town politics of big-tech development

Ken Wolkin, a Lansing resident and president of FLX Strong, penned an op-ed in The Ithaca Voice criticizing the Lansing Town Board's approach to TeraWulf's proposed AI data center on Cayuga Lake. Wolkin specifically pointed out Planning Board Chair Dean Shea's admonishment of newly appointed alternate member Aimee Caffrey for her prior critical comments about the data center. Wolkin argued this demonstrated a double standard, contrasting it with the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) chair's public support for TeraWulf's development, which went uncriticized. The op-ed further accused the ZBA of effectively rewriting the zoning code to facilitate TeraWulf's project, suggesting a 'development-at-all-costs' assumption within municipal decision-making. Wolkin emphasized the need for town committees to include members willing to scrutinize the risks associated with AI data centers. Wolkin highlighted a broader trend, noting that other municipalities like Oneonta are enacting moratoria, and Dryden is considering bans on data center development. He also mentioned that State Assemblymember Anna Kelles is co-sponsoring a statewide moratorium bill, supported by grassroots organizations such as FLX Strong, CLEAN, and No Data Center FLX. FLX Strong is currently involved in litigation against the Town of Lansing Zoning Board of Appeals.