Massena Group Protests Data Center Expansion
Mohawks United in Safety and Health (MUSH) held an "emergency mobilization" in Massena, NY, to demand a permanent ban on data centers. This protest occurred as the Massena Planning Board considers an expansion proposal by NYDIG and Coinmint for a Bitcoin mining data center at a former Superfund site. MUSH raised concerns about environmental contamination, presented a list of demands, and is collecting signatures for a petition opposing the data center and a proposed zoning amendment.
Mohawks United in Safety and Health (MUSH) staged an "emergency mobilization" outside Massena Town Hall in New York, demanding a permanent ban on data centers in the town. The protest coincided with the Massena Planning Board's pre-submission review of a proposal to expand a large-scale data center at the former Alcoa East site.
The expansion project involves New York Digital Investment Group (NYDIG), which plans to grow an existing Bitcoin mining operation. NYDIG, owned by Stone Ridge Asset Management, has a stake in Coinmint, which currently runs third-party mining hardware at the former Alcoa plant. The site previously hosted North Country Collocation Services (NCCS).
MUSH co-founder Ronni Sunday expressed disappointment with Massena town officials' handling of the data center application. The group's primary concerns include the potential for volatizing PCBs from the site, which was a Superfund site, and the long-term economic and environmental impact if data centers become unprofitable.
MUSH presented a list of demands to the town clerk, advocating for a prohibition on special use permits and variances for data centers, adequate public review, and an end to tax abatements for applicants. The group is also collecting signatures for a petition opposing the data center, with a focus on preventing an amendment that would allow data centers in industrial zones, where they are currently not authorized. They plan to present these demands again at a town board meeting on July 15.