FOIL’d emails fuel concern over possible data center interest at former Camp Monterey site

Emails obtained by Seneca Lake Guardian through a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request have revealed discussions between FLX Gateway Executive Director Judy McKinney Cherry and ClearPath Energy co-founder Greg Hering regarding the former Camp Monterey property in Beaver Dams, Schuyler County, New York. The communications, shared publicly by Seneca Lake Guardian, hint at ClearPath Energy's potential interest in developing a data center at the site.

The emails, dating back to late 2025 and early 2026, reference "data barns," fiber infrastructure, and the availability of industrial power and water at the former camp. Hering specifically inquired about the site's electrical service, water storage capacity, and the wastewater treatment plant's ability to support future uses, noting the need for "lots of power and gas" for a potential redevelopment. Cherry highlighted the property's three productive wells, generating 140,000 gallons of water daily, and its proximity to a 115-kilovolt electrical line and natural gas infrastructure.

While the discussions also explored other redevelopment concepts such as food processing and agriculture, critics argue that the focus on data center conferences and digital infrastructure suggests a primary interest in a data-processing facility. No formal proposal has been publicly submitted, and the emails do not confirm a project will proceed, but they provide insight into behind-the-scenes considerations for high-energy industrial uses at the site. The Camp Monterey property has garnered public attention due to debates over future land use and environmental impacts in the Finger Lakes region.