Potsdam considers yearlong pause on large data center projects

The Potsdam Town Board is considering a 12-month pause on applications for large-scale computing facilities, including data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations. The proposed moratorium would apply in the town outside the villages of Potsdam and Norwood.

A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for Nov. 5 at 4:30 p.m. at the town hall on Main Street. The proposed law would cover data centers with at least 20 megawatts of electrical demand or 50,000 square feet of floor space, along with cryptocurrency facilities requiring at least 5 megawatts. The board would use the moratorium period to review zoning and potential permanent regulations.