Massena Town Board votes against data center moratorium

The Massena Town Board in New York voted 3-2 against a proposed six-month moratorium that would have restricted the development of a new data center. This decision clears the way for North Country Collocation Services (NCCS) to potentially build a 1.5 million-square-foot, 635-megawatt data center near the St. Lawrence River. The project, if built, would consume power equivalent to about 70% of the Moses-Saunders Dam's output.

The vote followed an hour-long public comment session where residents were sharply divided. Opponents, including Mohawks United in Safety and Health and Akwesasne resident Marina Johnson Zafiris, raised concerns about potential spikes in electricity rates, excessive water consumption, and long-term environmental and social risks, advocating for more time to study the impacts. Zafiris highlighted her community's past suffering from industrial pollution. Conversely, proponents like Massena Fire Department Chief Tom Millar and labor union member Travis Flint of IBW Local 910 Electrical Workers, emphasized the need for new industry and jobs in Massena, which has faced economic decline.

Despite the local board's decision, New York State already has a one-year moratorium in place that allows state agencies to assess the impact of data centers on the electric grid, consumer costs, and the environment. Ronni Sunday, also from Mohawks United in Safety and Health, expressed confusion and frustration over the town board's "no" vote, particularly as the board had initially considered the moratorium. Resident McKay Burley warned against companies exploiting the desperation of small towns for economic change.