Environmental advocates to spotlight Greenidge AI plans at Geneva news conference
Environmental advocates and community leaders are holding a press conference in Geneva, New York, to urge Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act. They express concerns about Greenidge Generation, now rebranded as Vulcan Infrastructure and Power, which is pivoting to an AI data center and significantly increasing energy and water consumption. The event is part of a statewide "Stop Data Centers" tour.
Environmental advocates and community leaders are hosting a press conference in Geneva, New York, as part of a statewide "Stop Data Centers" tour. They are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act into law, citing concerns about the environmental impact of data center operations.
The focus of the conference is Greenidge Generation, which has rebranded as Vulcan Infrastructure and Power. Organizers allege the company is tripling its energy consumption as it transitions to a hyperscale AI data center, while still permitted to withdraw up to 139 million gallons of water daily from Seneca Lake and having emitted nearly 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide in a single year.
While New York initially denied Greenidge's air permit in 2022, the Hochul administration later reached a settlement in 2025 allowing operations to continue. The Responsible Data Center Development Act, which passed both legislative chambers, would impose a one-year moratorium on hyperscale data centers over 20 megawatts and mandate energy-efficiency standards, public benefits programs, project labor agreements, and public hearings for future projects. This bill contrasts with an executive order signed by Gov. Hochul in July, which established a temporary moratorium on new large-scale data centers over 50 megawatts.