Plattsburgh Considers Moratorium on Crypto Mining and AI Data Centers
- A public hearing was held in Plattsburgh, New York, regarding a proposed land use moratorium affecting operations requiring over 300 kilowatts (kW).
- The moratorium would last for a duration of 12 months if approved by the council.
- Mayor Wendell Hughes has not yet approved the moratorium, with another council meeting scheduled for September 17.
- In response to electricity cost concerns, Plattsburgh previously enacted an outright ban on Bitcoin mining in 2018 for an initial period of 18 months.
- Many crypto mining firms are now shifting focus towards AI and high-performance computing due to rising operational costs.
The proposed moratorium reflects ongoing concerns about energy consumption from high-energy computing facilities, including crypto mining. The outcome of the upcoming council meeting could significantly impact local operations in this sector.
If passed, the moratorium would halt approvals for new operations using over 300 kW for a year, echoing past measures taken against Bitcoin mining due to electricity costs.(Source)
