A controversial Lansing data center proposal is triggering a wave of restrictions across Tompkins County, according to The Ithaca Voice. Several nearby towns are now moving to ban or tightly control future data center projects before developers come knocking.
Dryden and Danby already approved laws blocking most data center development, while Ulysses, Enfield, and Newfield are drafting their own restrictions. Local leaders say the rapid rollout of TeraWulf’s proposed Lansing facility exposed gaps in zoning laws and raised concerns about energy use, water consumption, and environmental impacts.
Officials also worry large data centers could strain New York’s electric grid and increase power costs. Some towns say they may reconsider smaller, less resource-heavy projects later, but for now they’re signaling they are not open to large-scale facilities.
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