Seneca Lake power plant in Yates County converting to AI data center, sparks calls for moratorium
Greenidge Generation, now Vulcan Infrastructure and Power, is transitioning its former power plant in Torrey, NY, to an AI data center. An environmental group has launched a petition advocating for a moratorium on new AI data centers in the town due to concerns about electricity, environment, and local industries. The Town Supervisor indicates a moratorium is not currently necessary as no formal proposal for a new data center has been received.
The former Greenidge Generation power plant in the Town of Torrey, Yates County, New York, is undergoing another transformation, shifting its operations from cryptocurrency mining to an artificial intelligence (AI) data center under the new name Vulcan Infrastructure and Power. This transition has prompted concerns from environmental groups.
Yvonne Taylor, vice president of Seneca Lake Guardian, notes that the facility is already estimated to be 30% AI data center operations and is awaiting additional power in New York. Taylor has initiated a petition urging the Torrey Town Board to consider a moratorium on new development or expansion of AI data centers, arguing that the facility's impact extends beyond Torrey's borders, affecting regional electricity bills, the environment, climate, and the agriculture and tourism industries.
Torrey Town Supervisor Peter Martini stated that a moratorium is not currently necessary, as the town has not received a formal proposal from Vulcan. He also clarified that a moratorium cannot legally target a single entity but must block all similar development. The petition has gathered over a thousand signatures, and a community forum on the issue is scheduled for October 13 in Torrey.
Dale Irwin, president of Greenidge Generation, issued a statement asserting that permitted emissions, water use, noise, and other local considerations remain unchanged. He confirmed that the facility would continue to provide critical power to the local grid, meet its emissions reduction agreement with New York State, and operate the data center that has been on site since 2020, with the only change being the pivot from cryptocurrency to high-performance computing.