Groups to press Hochul in Geneva over Seneca Lake data center
Environmental advocates, elected officials, and residents are gathering in Geneva, NY, to urge Governor Kathy Hochul to sign legislation imposing a one-year moratorium on new hyperscale data centers over 20 megawatts. The focus is on Greenidge Generation's planned shift to AI data center operations near Seneca Lake and broader concerns about energy, water, and community impacts. The Responsible Data Center Development Act, which includes the moratorium and new energy-efficiency standards, has passed both state legislative chambers.
Environmental advocates, elected officials, and local residents are organizing a press conference in Geneva, New York, to call on Governor Kathy Hochul to enact legislation that would impose a one-year moratorium on new hyperscale data centers exceeding 20 megawatts. The event, scheduled for Monday at the Finger Lakes Welcome Center, aims to highlight concerns surrounding Greenidge Generation's proposed transition to artificial intelligence data center operations near Seneca Lake.
Organizers, including state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Food & Water Watch, emphasized broader environmental and community impacts, particularly related to energy and water usage. The 'Stop Data Centers' tour, led by Senator Gonzalez, seeks to pressure the Governor to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act, which passed both chambers of the state Legislature in June.
In addition to the moratorium, the proposed legislation would mandate energy-efficiency standards, establish host-community benefit programs, require project labor agreements, and ensure public hearings for future data center permits. Critics argue that Governor Hochul's existing executive order, which temporarily halted data centers larger than 50 megawatts, does not offer protections as comprehensive as the new bill. It remains uncertain whether Greenidge, now operating as Vulcan Infrastructure and Power, would fall under the purview of either measure if enacted.
Scheduled speakers at the event include Senator Gonzalez, Assemblymember Anna Kelles, Yvonne Taylor of Seneca Lake Guardian, Laura Shindell of Food & Water Watch, Cornell University professor Robert Howarth, and representatives from local community groups and the Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ Nation.