NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. – A potential partnership between NANO Nuclear Energy and Digihost Technology Inc. could bring nuclear reactor technology to a crypto mining plant in North Tonawanda, a development that has already spurred significant interest and concern among residents.
On December 12, Digihost and NANO Nuclear signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate nuclear reactor technology at the existing plant located on Erie Avenue. The announcement has prompted a flurry of inquiries to North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec’s office, though definitive answers remain limited at this early stage.
“It sparks some concerns when anyone hears nuclear,” Mayor Tylec acknowledged. “Right now, we’re really digging into the details with it. There’s not a ton of information.”
According to a press release from NANO Nuclear Energy, the primary goal of this collaboration is to address the environmental concerns associated with the current Digihost plant, leveraging more sustainable energy sources.
“The opportunity to collaborate with NANO Nuclear represents a bold move toward achieving our sustainability goals,” stated Michael Amar, CEO of Digihost Technology. “By leveraging NANO Nuclear’s advanced nuclear reactor technology, we gain the potential ability to scale quickly across our existing power assets following successful initial deployment.”
Despite the stated benefits, the introduction of nuclear power and its associated industrial waste into North Tonawanda is facing some resistance.
“The questions that come up are, ‘What happens to the waste? Is there any potential for explosions?'” Tylec noted. “These are all things that we brought up or have heard concerns about.”
The announcement arrives approximately six months after the North Tonawanda Common Council approved a two-year moratorium on all crypto mining developments within the city, a measure that garnered unanimous support in July. Tylec pointed out that North Tonawanda currently lacks specific zoning categories to regulate operations like those proposed by NANO Nuclear. He intends to collaborate with local environmental groups and neighboring municipalities to address this.
“For residents out there that are wondering, we are aware that there are concerns with this type of industry,” Tylec reassured. “We’re going to make sure we get to the bottom of it.”
Mayor Tylec also emphasized that NANO Nuclear has projected a target date of 2031 for the integration of the reactor. He said the intervening time will be used to ensure all resident queries receive a response and all concerns are given due consideration.
