Onondaga County launches $500K study to guide towns on AI data centers
Onondaga County is investing $500,000 in a study to guide its municipalities, like the Town of Lysander, on the development of AI data centers. This initiative addresses environmental, health, and infrastructure concerns, following a six-month moratorium enacted by Lysander due to resident opposition to a proposed data center project.
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon announced that the county will commit $500,000 to a feasibility study for AI data centers. The study aims to assist local municipalities, such as the Town of Lysander, in making informed decisions about controversial data center developments within their jurisdictions by identifying potential sites and addressing various concerns.
The newly formed "Onondaga County Data Center Investigative Task Force," composed of the county's Economic Development Department of Planning, Department of Water & Environmental Protection, Onondaga County Water Authority, and Department of Health, will examine infrastructure needs and environmental and health-related impacts. Key areas of focus include land use, zoning considerations, data center design, wastewater supply and capacity, and noise. McMahon emphasized that the task force will not make final decisions on data center construction.
This county-wide effort follows a specific request for guidance from the Town of Lysander, which is considering its own data center committee. In May, the Lysander Town Board voted to implement a six-month moratorium on data centers, effectively halting construction until the end of the year. This moratorium was prompted by resident concerns regarding a 124-acre plot listed for sale and a proposed data center project by Renalli Super DC, LLC, which had sought to connect to the New York Independent System Operator's power grid. The county's study is expected to be completed within five to six months.