The Town of Lansing, New York, is moving toward a ban on data centers after months of debate over TeraWulf’s proposal to redevelop a former power plant site. A majority of Town Board members indicated that data centers may be incompatible with the community and instructed the town attorney to draft a local law prohibiting them.
At a public meeting, residents overwhelmingly supported a ban, citing concerns about electricity demand, noise, water quality and environmental impacts. TeraWulf’s vice president of project development asked the town to let the existing review process continue. The executive acknowledged community concerns but argued that the technical review should proceed.
The board has not enacted the ban. Its decision to pursue a draft law marks a significant shift in the town’s stance and a major obstacle for TeraWulf’s Lake Hawkeye project.