North Tonawanda’s Common Council approved a one-year extension of its AI data center moratorium on June 17, 2026, in North Tonawanda, halting new facilities and pausing a proposal to convert a crypto mining site on Erie Avenue into an AI operation. The vote followed weeks of discussions among city officials, residents, and company representatives as the community weighs technology growth against environmental and infrastructure pressures.
The extension matters because it preserves time for a fuller review of energy demand, water usage, and neighborhood impacts while larger regional projects advance, including a separate, proposed $2 billion AI data center at the former Tonawanda Coke Plant site on River Road in the Town of Tonawanda. City leaders said the pause enables more detailed assessments and public input before any permanent rules are set. Last update: June 17, 2026.
Council vote and Mayor Austin Tylec’s recommendation
At the start of the meeting, Mayor Austin Tylec urged the Council to proceed with the one-year extension, citing the complexity of facilities already operating under prior approvals. “A facility that’s currently grandfathered, we have to navigate those waters a little bit differently. I feel that this is the best way forward” he said, acknowledging that “A moratorium can only do so much for so long.” The Council then approved the extension to maintain the pause on new AI centers while staff refine standards.
The moratorium’s scope includes the Erie Avenue plan presented to the planning commission by a representative of World Generation Xwhich sought to convert a cryptocurrency mining facility into an AI data center. City officials described the extension as a temporary measure to evaluate energy loadsnoise controls, and cooling strategies, and to determine how a conversion would change infrastructure and operating patterns compared with the prior crypto use.
Resident reactions and environmental concerns
Public comments reflected a mix of support and caution. Resident Mark Polito praised the decision, saying there was “a lot more work needed, a lot more answers, a lot more questions to the answers” and thanked councilmembers for taking time to put safeguards in place. Other residents urged a longer pause to ensure the city fully understands potential outcomes before permitting any AI conversions or new construction.
Environmental concerns centered on water and power. Tom Weisbeck warned, “Just be careful with your water. Water is essential for life. If we don’t, we’re not here.” Cynthia Tysick highlighted differences between crypto mining and AI data centers, noting higher resilience requirements and potentially different power demand profiles for AI workloads. City officials said the additional year would allow technical reviews and community input to proceed in parallel with drafting clearer standards.
Erie Avenue facility issues and enforcement status
The existing Erie Avenue cryptomining facility has drawn noise complaints from neighbors for about five years and has been cited under the city’s noise ordinance. Cases remain pending in court. North Tonawanda Police Department Chief Glass said enforcement continues, noting, “Until the court catches up, they’ve got, I wrote eight of them, and we’re still dealing with ordinance number one from a year ago.” He added that the department has attended meetings and is trying to manage the situation within legal timelines.
City staff indicated the moratorium will be used to compile findings on energy consumptioncooling and water usageacoustics, and grid impacts, as well as to draft regulations tailored to AI data center operations. The broader regional backdrop includes the proposed $2 billion project on River Road in the Town of Tonawanda, which has intensified the debate over siting, utility capacity, and economic benefits. Officials said any future decisions will weigh study results and resident feedback before revisiting applications currently on hold.
