Hochul data center moratorium raises questions for proposed Genesee County project

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed the nation's first statewide moratorium on large-scale data centers, temporarily pausing state environmental permits for up to one year to establish a framework for protecting ratepayers, the energy grid, and the environment. This executive order is creating uncertainty for a proposed multibillion-dollar hyperscale data center in Genesee County, planned by Stream Data Centers at the Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) in the town of Alabama.

The project, which developers claim will power the digital backbone of everyday life and generate over $218 million in local revenues over two decades, has faced significant community pushback. Residents like Cheryl and Mark Cordes view the moratorium as a "baby step" in their ongoing fight against the facility, vowing to continue their advocacy.

Further complicating the project, the Tonawanda Seneca Nation and the Sierra Club have filed a lawsuit challenging an incentive zoning agreement between the town of Alabama and the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC). Grandell Logan, a Tonawanda Seneca Nation spokesperson, expressed hope that the pause would lead to a more thorough environmental review extending beyond the immediate STAMP site. Alabama Town Supervisor Robert Crossen stated the town has not yet been formally served with the lawsuit.

Stream Data Centers and the GCEDC have declined to comment on the executive order or the pending litigation, citing a need to review the order's full text and a policy against commenting on active lawsuits. The project still awaits final environmental and site plan approval from the planning board, with its next meeting scheduled for August 3.