Clay neighbors urge town to hit pause on data centers
Clay residents are urging the Town Board to enact a 12-month moratorium on data center applications to study their potential impacts like power demand, water use, and noise. A public hearing was held on the proposed moratorium, which has support from residents and town officials who want to be better informed. Nearby communities and Onondaga County are also addressing data center development.
Residents of Clay, New York, are actively urging the Clay Town Board to implement a temporary moratorium on new data center applications, citing concerns over potential impacts on quality of life. The Town Board recently conducted a public hearing for a proposed 12-month moratorium that would temporarily halt applications for data centers, AI computing facilities, and cryptocurrency operations. Supporters argue that this pause is crucial to allow the town sufficient time to research and understand the broader implications of such developments.
During the hearing, residents voiced questions regarding significant power demand, water usage, increased noise levels, and the overall effect on the community's quality of life. Deputy Town Supervisor Joseph Bick affirmed the town's proactive stance, stating the moratorium aims to prevent the town from being unprepared for future applications due to a lack of information.
The push for a moratorium in Clay reflects a broader trend in Central New York, with neighboring communities like Lysander and Manlius also debating similar temporary halts. Concurrently, New York State lawmakers await Governor Kathy Hochul's signature on a bill that could establish a statewide data center moratorium. Onondaga County, which includes Clay, is dedicating $500,000 to study data center impacts, responding to requests from local governments for better tools to make informed decisions.