Yates County Planning Board approves GML 239 referrals, hears Greenidge update; member announces departure

The Yates County Planning Board convened Aug. 27 with Chair Steven Fulkerson calling the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The board voted on eight GML 239 referrals, approving motions that found no significant countywide impact on the majority of items and voting positive countywide impact for two commercial proposals. Paul Danielson announced this was his last meeting.

Board members heard a communications update from Greenidge President Dale Irwin, who said the facility currently operates approximately 17,000 active Bitcoin miners and employs roughly 25 people; Irwin added the company is analyzing, but has not proposed, a potential conversion of some operations to AI/high-performance computing and will submit formal plans for municipal review if pursued. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.