Plattsburgh Considers New Moratorium on Crypto Mining and AI Data Centers

The town of Plattsburgh, New York held a public hearing to discuss a proposed temporary ban on land use for high-energy computing facilities, including cryptocurrency mining and artificial intelligence operations. If approved, the moratorium would block new approvals for facilities requiring 300 kilowatts or more of power for a period of 12 months.

Mayor Has Not Yet Approved Measure

As of this week, Mayor Wendell Hughes had not signed off on the proposal, with the town council scheduled to revisit the issue at a follow-up meeting later this month. Residents shared input on the plan during the initial hearing.

History of Crypto Restrictions in the Area

Plattsburgh was among the first US jurisdictions to ban Bitcoin mining outright, implementing an 18-month moratorium back in 2018 due to concerns over rising electricity costs for residents. The renewed push for restrictions comes as many crypto mining companies have shifted their operations toward AI and high-performance computing amid falling token prices and increasing power expenses.