County Planning Board: Massena data center site plan contains more questions than answers
The St. Lawrence County Planning Board reviewed a proposed three-building data center project in Massena, raising significant questions about power acquisition, water usage, environmental impact, and whether data centers are a permitted use under current town zoning laws. The project is still in its early stages, with the town of Massena Planning Board now responsible for addressing the concerns.
The St. Lawrence County Planning Board conducted a site plan review for a proposed data center at the former Alcoa East site in Massena, New York, for a project involving Bitcoin mining operator NYDIG, an expansion of an existing operation by Coinmint.
The review session, which was deemed "premature" by town of Massena Planning Board Chairman Vance Fleury, highlighted numerous unanswered questions regarding the project's feasibility. Major concerns included the acquisition of 635 megawatts of power for the three proposed structures (535,000, 515,000, and 400,000 square feet), its impact on other users, and how the developer plans to secure the necessary energy beyond a proposed 200MW substation and existing allocations. Board members expressed concerns that the projected power usage would be the second largest in the state, potentially leading to blackouts during peak demand.
Environmental concerns were also prominent, addressing the project's impact on local water sources, air, and noise pollution. Initial plans for an evaporating cooling system requiring 2.7 million gallons of water daily were reportedly changed to a closed-loop system, but board members still emphasized the need for a contingency plan given existing contaminated lagoons on the property.
Critically, the project faces zoning issues. St. Lawrence County Planning Director Jason C. Pfotenhauer noted that data centers are not currently a permitted use in the site's industrial zone, despite a previous, unapproved revision to Massena's zoning laws. The developer's attorney, Lindsey Haubenreich, stated the project is in its early stages and the applicant is conducting outreach to stakeholders. The Town of Massena Planning Board will now take up the project to address the identified issues and recommendations.