North Tonawanda, N.Y. (WBEN) - North Tonawanda's Digihost crypto mining Plant on Erie Avenue is raising some eyebrows over it's new partnership with NANO Nuclear Energy.
Mayor Austin Tylec told WBEN on Wednesday it was first brought to his attention about a month ago.
"There is still a lot of information that we're trying to gather," Tylec said.
Digihost, which has been operating for almost two years in North Tonawanda, is turning to a nuclear company to find a new source of energy.
"These bitcoin mining centers use quite a bit of energy and New York State has some pretty intense climate goals, so they're trying to look at different ways to find new sources of energy," he said.
Tylec went on to say that with every energy source, there's a pro and a con.
"Solar panels; where do you put the waste? Wind turbines; where do you put the waste? Nuclear; where do you put the waste?" he said.
He added that nuclear technology is a new type of industry that they are still figuring out.
In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NANO Nuclear and Digihost, filed with New York State in December, the two companies plan to advance the transition to carbon-free energy at the Digihost’s plant. The state has a goal of a zero-emission grid in its future. NANO Nuclear is developing the clean energy through microreactors in development.
"It may not necessarily be a bad thing, but does it have to be in our backyard?" Tylec asked.
The City of North Tonawanda has an open line of communication with Digihost.
The Digihost plant has been a source of complaints in the city since it began operating in February of 2022. Many residents complain that noise from the facility has been described as a constant hum that can be heard from a half-mile away.
Last July, North Tonawanda approved a two-year moratorium on crypto mining facilities. The Digihost plant won't be affected by the ban, but it will not be able to expand its operations.
Tylec said the city has to make sure their zoning laws are up to date and plans to meet in the coming weeks with community environmental activists.