Unveiling the Corporate Network Behind a $3.2B AI Data Center Expansion

When Public Citizen requested that TeraWulf commit to a public meeting with the community near its Maryland facility, the company said it had no such obligation and declined.

“We’ve got them on record saying FERC [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission] rules don’t obligate us to meet in person with the community, so we’re not going to,” said Slocum.

The same dismissive stance was observed in Somerset, New York, highlighting a broader pattern of accountability gaps that persist across the entire data‑center technology stack.

Legislation

In early June, the New York State Legislature passed the Responsible Data Center Development Act—an omnibus bill that tackles the energy and environmental impact of data centers. The legislation would require an environmental impact analysis by the Department of Environmental Conservation, set energy‑efficiency standards, establish prevailing‑wage labor requirements at construction sites, mandate a transition to renewable energy by 2040, and ensure host communities receive tangible investments from data‑center stakeholders. It also imposes a one‑year moratorium on new permits for facilities drawing 20 megawatts or more.

Three months after its passage, the bill remains unsigned. In July, Governor Hochul issued a narrower executive order creating a one‑year moratorium on permits for hyperscale data centers exceeding 50 megawatts, but she left the broader legislative framework untouched. Neither policy applies to Lake Mariner, whose 500‑megawatt expansion was already permitted before the executive order took effect.

“I think the executive order is a good start and a step in the right direction, but I think the legislation is more comprehensive,” said Assemblyman Patrick Carroll, a Democrat and co‑sponsor of the bill, at a rally in Rockland County urging Hochul to sign it.

In Somerset, two months after a fire, the water‑supply issues that forced firefighters to shuttle in tank water have still not been resolved, and construction activity has not slowed.

“If there’s no hydrant for me,” Matisz said, “that fire is going to burn under their asses.”

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