‘Energy hog’ bus tour stops in Syracuse, calls for limits on data centers

Environmental advocates and local officials converged in Syracuse, New York, as part of the New York Public Interest Research Group's (NYPIRG) "Energy Hog Bus Tour." The tour aims to highlight concerns about energy-intensive infrastructure, specifically calling for a statewide moratorium on large-scale data centers. Speakers at the event, including NYPIRG's western New York regional coordinator Alex Bornemisza and Onondaga County Legislator Maurice Brown, argued that data centers drive up energy costs, strain natural resources, and threaten to undermine New York’s 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Brown specifically cited a proposed 300-megawatt data center in Lysander as a threat to local resources and misaligned with community priorities. He stated, "No, this is not what we need in our community. We need safe drinking water, we need housing. We don't need to make corporations more profitable." Advocates also criticized Governor Kathy Hochul's administration for proposals they believe could weaken the state’s climate law and called for greater transparency in budget negotiations related to climate policy. While pushing for a moratorium, some acknowledged that data center development might continue and suggested solutions such as requiring higher electricity rates for companies and stricter environmental safeguards. The bus tour will continue to other cities like Albany, Kingston, and New York City to build statewide support for more stringent regulations on data centers.