Data center project at former Tonawanda Coke site on hold

A proposed 300-megawatt data center project, the Riverview Innovation and Technology Campus, slated for the former Tonawanda Coke site in Tonawanda, New York, has been placed "on hold." According to Town of Tonawanda Supervisor John Flynn, the developer requested a pause on their application due to a substantial backlog with the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO).

NYISO, a public-benefit corporation tasked with monitoring and safeguarding the state's electrical grid, conducts system studies vital for local development approvals. The review of the project's considerable 300 MW power load, capable of powering approximately 180,000 homes, is expected to take several months.

This delay coincides with legislative action in Albany, where New York lawmakers are anticipated to pass a one-year statewide moratorium on new data center construction by the end of their session. State Senator Jeremy Zellner, who represents Tonawanda and co-sponsors the bill, voiced concerns about the environmental impact, including unknown chemicals in water cooling, and the immense electricity consumption, advocating for a pause to gather more information. If enacted, this would be the first statewide data center moratorium in the U.S.

While a discussion of the site plan was originally on the agenda for the Tonawanda Planning Board meeting, that item will likely be pulled. Jon Williams, one of the project's primary developers, has already overseen an estimated $100 million in remediation efforts at the site. Riverview Innovation and Technology Campus has stated their commitment to proceed with the data center after further planning.