Mohawk advocates hold rally against Massena data centers

Mohawks United in Safety and Health (MUSH) organized an "emergency mobilization" rally outside Massena Town Hall in New York, calling for a permanent ban on data centers in the town. The demonstration occurred as the Massena Town Planning Board was conducting a pre-submission review for a large-scale data center project proposed by the New York Digital Investment Group (NYDIG).

NYDIG, owned by Stone Ridge Asset Management, intends to expand an existing Bitcoin mining operation at the former Alcoa East site, which previously housed North Country Collocation Services (NCCS) and Coinmint. Ronni Sunday, a MUSH co-founder, voiced significant concerns, primarily focusing on the environmental impact, particularly the potential volatization of PCBs from the Superfund site due to the data center's operations. The group also questioned the long-term profitability and job security offered by such facilities, fearing environmental contamination without sustained economic benefits.

MUSH presented a list of demands to the town clerk, advocating for the prohibition of special use permits and variances for data centers, increased public review time, and a ban on tax abatements for applicants. The group emphasized its primary objective: preventing the town from amending its zoning code to authorize data centers in industrial zones, where they are currently not permitted. MUSH plans to continue monitoring project developments and collecting signatures for its petition ahead of an upcoming town board meeting.