Massena Planning Board hears update from data center representatives
Opponents of a large-scale data center filled the Massena Town Hall for a Planning Board meeting where North Country Colocation Services (NCCS) and NYDIG presented updates on their proposed project. NCCS addressed concerns regarding power usage, water consumption, and noise, detailing their plans for a closed-loop water system and reduced emergency generators. The developers also outlined a host community agreement promising significant financial benefits and infrastructure funding to the town.
John Dalby, CFO of North Country Colocation Services (NCCS), and Carter McLean, director of data center development for NCCS, presented updates on a proposed large-scale data center at the former Alcoa East site to the Massena Planning Board. The meeting room at Massena Town Hall was filled with opponents, though no public comments were allowed during this presentation, with Chairman Vance Fleury stating a public meeting would be held in the future.
NCCS outlined several project changes and commitments aimed at addressing community concerns. McLean stated that the project is approved for 435 megawatts of power by the New York Independent System Operator Inc. and awaits a decision on an additional 200 megawatts. Environmental concerns were addressed by working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Environmental Conservation to ensure no jurisdictional wetlands are impacted. To allay water usage fears, NCCS announced a fully closed-loop system, eliminating the need to draw water from the St. Lawrence River or connect to local waterways. Harsh Patel, NCCS head of engineering, emphasized that the system would simply recirculate water for seven to ten years without discharge. Additionally, Eric Kenna from C&S Engineers noted that the facility would only use approximately 800 gallons of water daily from a small existing treatment plant for sanitary purposes, utilizing septic systems.
Noise mitigation was also a key update, with NCCS reducing emergency generators from 314 to 64, which will only run during emergencies. Modeling by C&S Engineers showed noise levels between 40-50 decibels at the property border during emergency operation, and 35-45 decibels during normal operations, well below the 60-decibel allowance for cryptocurrency mining. Lindsey Haubenreich, attorney for the developer, indicated the town board had already approved an escrow agreement for a third-party consultant to review these technical materials at the developer's expense. Furthermore, Dalby detailed a community hosting agreement committing NCCS to a $7 million payment upon the first data center energization, an additional $3 million when the campus is fully energized, and thereafter $3 million annually, adjusted for inflation, potentially totaling up to $140 million for the town over 15-30 years. NCCS also pledged to cover any ratepayer electrical costs and 100% of necessary infrastructure upgrades.