Protesters rally against proposed $19.4B data center in Genesee County

Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation recently protested a proposed $19.4 billion data center development by Stream Data Centers at the Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park in the town of Alabama, Genesee County, New York. The protest, held at Batavia City Hall, coincided with the release of a new study by opponents. The study claims that Stream Data Centers has failed to provide adequate supporting materials for its cost-benefit analysis, suggesting the project may not deliver net economic benefits to the local community. Sarah Howard, an environmental justice organizer for the Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, asserted that data centers will locate where they choose regardless of subsidies, making such incentives wasteful. The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC), responsible for the project's environmental review, has publicly refuted the study's findings and announced its intention to conduct a thorough analysis. Stream Data Centers responded with a statement highlighting its commitment to transparency and community engagement, aiming to demonstrate the project's blend of innovative technology with minimal environmental impact and significant economic advantages. The GCEDC is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the data center proposal on Thursday, with the Town of Alabama holding its own public hearing the following Monday, April 20.