Residents rally against potential data center at former Remington Site
Approximately 100 residents in Ilion, New York, protested the potential redevelopment of the former Remington Arms factory into an artificial intelligence data center. The protest follows the site's purchase by Turin Management and a proposal submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation outlining a data center among other industrial possibilities. Protest organizers and the newly elected mayor are working to educate the community and pursue a moratorium on data center development, citing concerns over noise, power consumption, and lack of information.
Close to 100 residents of Ilion, New York, gathered to protest the potential redevelopment of the former Remington Arms factory site into an artificial intelligence data center. The demonstration took place amidst early discussions about the future of the 28-acre property, which was purchased by Turin Management in 2024.
Empire State Development previously awarded the Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency $500,000 to assist in the site's redevelopment. Documents submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation included a concept for a 250,000-square-foot data center on a remediated portion of the site, sparking immediate concern among locals.
Jax Sweeney, the protest organizer, emphasized the need for public education regarding the potential impacts of a data center, such as noise pollution and high energy consumption. She is collaborating with local planning and zoning officials to pursue a moratorium on data center development while existing regulations are reviewed. Newly elected Ilion Mayor David Murray, whose campaign platform included opposition to the data center, echoed residents' concerns and pledged to conduct further research. Democratic Assembly candidate Colleen Maxwell also encouraged a nonpartisan approach to the issue, focusing on community well-being.