Data Center Signal is tracking 11 clips about North Country Collocation Services data center developments across 1 states, including NY.
The Massena Town Board has approved a $100,000 escrow agreement to cover expenses for reviewing plans for a large-scale data center by NYDIG at the former Alcoa East site. This funding will support consultants in evaluating potential impacts such as energy, noise, and traffic, as part of the municipal approval process.
A data center project in Massena, New York, is facing significant community and government pushback over environmental concerns and code compliance. The Town Planning Board has referred the project to the Zoning Board of Appeals for interpretation on whether the proposed site is permitted. Meanwhile, town officials are reviewing current code language, and a neighboring town is considering its own moratorium.
The Massena Planning Board has referred a proposed $5 billion data center project by NYDIG at the former Alcoa East site to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a determination on whether it is a permitted use in an industrial zone. Data centers are not currently authorized there, and the town may need to amend its codes or the project may require a use variance. Consultants will be hired to review energy usage (635 MW), noise, traffic, and cooling systems.
Mohawks United in Safety and Health (MUSH) held a rally in Massena, New York, to demand a permanent ban on data centers in the town. This protest coincided with the Massena Planning Board's pre-submission review of NYDIG's plan to expand a Bitcoin mining data center at the former Alcoa East Superfund site. MUSH raised environmental concerns about PCBs and presented a list of demands to town officials, focusing on changes to zoning codes to prevent data center authorization.
New York State lawmakers have passed the Responsible Data Center Development Act, which proposes a one-year statewide moratorium on data center projects over 20 megawatts, pending Governor Kathy Hochul's decision to sign or veto. Assemblyman Scott Gray urges a veto, citing economic concerns and redundancy with existing state studies, while local advocates argue a one-year ban is insufficient.
Mohawks United in Safety and Health (MUSH) held an "emergency mobilization" in Massena, NY, to demand a permanent ban on data centers. This protest occurred as the Massena Planning Board considers an expansion proposal by NYDIG and Coinmint for a Bitcoin mining data center at a former Superfund site. MUSH raised concerns about environmental contamination, presented a list of demands, and is collecting signatures for a petition opposing the data center and a proposed zoning amendment.
Assemblyman Scott Gray has urged Governor Kathy Hochul to veto proposed legislation for a one-year statewide moratorium on data center development in New York. Gray argues that the moratorium would harm economic investment and local decision-making, citing ongoing projects like NYDIG's expansion in Massena. He advocates for clear standards to address community concerns rather than a ban.
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) is strongly opposing a proposed large-scale data center expansion in Massena, New York, citing concerns about environmental impacts, significant energy and water demands, and inadequate consultation. The MCA emphasizes that economic development should not compromise environmental integrity or community well-being. The proposed expansion by developers affiliated with NYDIG and NCCS at the former Alcoa East site would require approximately 635 megawatts of electricity.
St. Lawrence County legislators passed a resolution urging towns and villages to adopt new zoning codes and consider moratoriums on data center development, following significant public opposition to a project in Massena. The resolution aims to provide local control over data center siting, which the county itself cannot legally impose county-wide. Concerns include electricity demand, environmental impact, and tax abatements.
Residents in Massena, New York, including those from the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation, voiced strong opposition to a proposed 635MW data center project at a Town Board meeting. The project, involving NYDIG and North Country Collocation Services, would require a new electrical substation and initially planned for river water cooling, which town officials deemed a "non-starter." The Town Planning Board is set to review the site plan and environmental impact, with officials emphasizing a need for transparent communication and alternative cooling methods.
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.