Jehovah’s Witnesses buys former IBM campus near Warwick headquarters
The Jehovah's Witnesses purchased a former IBM campus in Warwick, Orange County, New York, which includes a 433,000-square-foot data center. The organization has not yet disclosed its plans for the facility, including whether it will continue operating the data center. The acquisition occurs as New York recently enacted a statewide moratorium on new data center construction, prompted by concerns over energy and water consumption.
The Jehovah's Witnesses, through its entity Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, recently acquired a 68-acre former IBM campus in Warwick, Orange County, New York. The property, located near the organization's world headquarters, includes a 433,000-square-foot data center.
A spokesperson for the Jehovah's Witnesses stated that planning for the property is in early stages, and the religious group is evaluating how the facility will support its religious activities. They have not disclosed whether the existing data center will continue operations or if they will seek tax exemptions or permits. The purchase expands the organization's significant footprint in the Hudson Valley region, which includes properties in Putnam, Ulster, Dutchess, and Rockland counties.
The acquisition takes place amid growing national and statewide scrutiny of data centers due to their substantial energy and water consumption. New York recently became the first U.S. state to enact a moratorium on new data center construction, driven by environmental concerns and fears about AI technology's impact. Former owner Kyndryl, IBM's infrastructure services unit, had previously filed a permit application with the state Department of Environmental Conservation to withdraw up to 130,000 gallons of water daily for the data center's cooling system. Jehovah's Witnesses spokesman Jason Hohl emphasized the organization's commitment to environmental stewardship in all its projects.