Plattsburgh Weighs New Bitcoin Mining Ban Over 105MW Grid Cap

Plattsburgh, New York, is considering a short-term ban on new crypto ventures while the city rewrites its zoning rules.

Protecting the city’s allotment

Mayor Wendell Hughes says a temporary ban would give Plattsburgh time to codify zoning changes that keep new crypto or data center projects from consuming the electricity the city receives from the state.

A single facility of that kind can draw 50 megawatts, and Plattsburgh’s entire allotment is 105 megawatts.

Hughes said:

“Our total allotment for the City of Plattsburgh is 105MW. So, that’s a half of the usage in the city of Plattsburgh. You know, we have to protect the city of Plattsburgh.”

Cheap power, familiar problem

Plattsburgh’s low electric rates have long made it a destination for bitcoin mining operators looking for the cheapest possible power.

Hughes added that the high-energy facilities do not push utility rates higher for residents.

What happens next

The proposed measure heads to the county for approval before returning to the Common Council for a vote.

Not the city’s first ban

Plattsburgh took the same step in 2018, becoming the first city in the country to halt bitcoin mining while regulators worked out how to handle the industry.

That ban was later lifted, and the city has revisited the question repeatedly since, including a 2022 debate over a statewide mining moratorium bill in New York.