Plattsburgh Weighs 12-Month Ban on Crypto Mining and AI Data Centers

Officials in Plattsburgh, New York, are considering a 12-month moratorium on new cryptocurrency mining and artificial intelligence data center projects requiring 300 kilowatts or more of power. A public hearing examined a proposal covering land use for “certain high energy computing facilities,” with residents weighing in on its potential economic and environmental effects. If approved, the measure would temporarily halt new project approvals while the town reviews its regulations. Mayor Wendell Hughes had not yet approved the moratorium as of Tuesday, according to reports. The Common Council is scheduled to discuss it again at a Sept. 17 meeting. Plattsburgh was among the first U.S. jurisdictions to restrict Bitcoin mining over electricity-cost concerns, adopting an 18-month moratorium in 2018. The latest proposal comes as mining companies increasingly shift toward AI and high-performance computing amid rising energy costs and declining token prices.