The AI Data Center ProposalTeraWulf, a bitcoin mining company-turned AI data center company, is proposing a 300 Megawatt AI data center on the shores of Cayuga Lake.
To construct their 3 proposed buildings, which will house computing equipment used by companies like Google, which is TeraWulf's largest shareholder, they will need to clear more than 40 acres of a forested hillside on the shore of Cayuga Lake and blast into bedrock in some spots.
Their proposed plans involve new power transmission line construction through wetlands, potentially permanently altering the wetland hydrology, if not outright destroying the wetlands all together.
Developing more than 30 acres of new impervious surfaces will likely increase storm water runoff, soil erosion, and contamination of Cayuga Lake.
Issues and InconsistenciesIn 2025 TeraWulf officials promised that no diesel generators and no water withdrawal from the lake would be needed at the project.
However, on April 27, TeraWulf informed the Town of Lansing Planning Board that they now plan to install six 2500 kw diesel generators on the site for backup power generation and to use up to 700,000 gallons of lake water, supplied by Bolton Point, per day for mist cooling on particularly hot days.
A development of this size places an enormous demand on our electric grid, and increased electricity demand at this scale would raise the wholesale price for already rising utility costs.
According to the NY Independent System Operator "New York's electric system faces an era of profound reliability challenges as retirements accelerate... The margin for error is extremely narrow, and most plausible futures point to significant reliability shortfalls within the next ten years."
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