Brookhaven digital infrastructure facility promises $1 billion investment
A proposed $1 billion data center, the Brookhaven Digital Infrastructure Facility, is planned for Yaphank, New York, within existing warehouses. The project faces local opposition, including an anticipated 18-month moratorium from the Town of Brookhaven and skepticism from the Industrial Development Agency. Concerns center on power demand, environmental impact, and whether current zoning permits a data center.
Wildflower, also known as WF Industrial, proposes a $1 billion Brookhaven Digital Infrastructure Facility in Yaphank, New York. The data center would occupy 549,000 square feet of vacant warehouses and feature a closed-loop cooling system to minimize water use, along with rainwater harvesting. Michael Bowden, Wildflower's director of development, stated the project would create 50 full-time jobs and over 1,000 construction jobs.
However, the project faces significant local hurdles and opposition. The Town of Brookhaven is considering an 18-month moratorium on data centers, which Town Supervisor Dan Panico expects to be enacted unanimously. Panico also questions whether the site's existing warehouse zoning allows for a data center, seeking determination from town officials. The Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency, through CEO Lisa Mulligan, has indicated it will not support data center projects, noting Wildflower is in technical default of a prior tax-relief package for the site.
Community groups and the Long Island Progressive Coalition oppose the project, questioning its necessity and potential impacts on power costs, climate, and utility infrastructure. The facility plans to draw 176.6 megawatts from the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) grid, requiring a new substation and electrical infrastructure, which Wildflower says will be paid for by the project, not ratepayers. LIPA anticipates no reliability concerns but notes ongoing engineering review. Wildflower aims to continue seeking regulatory approvals and address community concerns about noise and emissions, asserting the project would bring significant tax revenue and utilize an ideal site for high-capacity transmission access.