Hamburg NY Considers Data Center Moratorium
Hamburg officials are considering a one-year moratorium on new large-scale data centers, with a public hearing scheduled before the Town Board votes. Councilmember Frank Bogulski said residents oppose the facilities because of concerns about overdevelopment, electricity and water use, environmental impacts, noise and infrastructure, and he favors an outright ban.
The Hamburg Town Board scheduled a public hearing on a proposed one-year moratorium that would pause new large-scale data center development across the town. Councilmember Frank Bogulski said constituents are concerned about overdevelopment, utility costs, electrical capacity, water resources, noise, backup power, environmental effects and compatibility with surrounding properties. He said he would prefer banning data centers entirely, pending a legal review of whether such a prohibition could withstand a challenge.
The proposal follows moratoriums or pauses adopted or considered by other Western New York municipalities, including West Seneca, Buffalo and Tonawanda. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has also imposed a one-year pause on new hyperscale facilities drawing at least 50 megawatts, while state lawmakers consider longer and broader restrictions. The Hamburg debate has also raised the possibility of directing any future facilities to former industrial sites such as the former Bethlehem Steel property or industrial land in Tonawanda.