Staff Report / August 24, 2026
GENEVA – Environmental advocates and state lawmakers will assemble at the Finger Lakes Welcome Center today, August 24, for a press conference protesting hyperscale AI data center developments in the region.
Organized as part of the statewide “Stop Data Centers” tour, the event is led by State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez (D-59) and environmental advocacy group Food & Water Watch. Demonstrators are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act, a bipartisan bill passed by the state legislature in June. The rally comes as Vulcan Infrastructure and Power—the rebranded name of Yates County-based Greenidge Generation—plans to triple its energy consumption to pivot from cryptomining to a hyperscale artificial intelligence data center in Torrey. Seneca Lake Guardian and other advocates warn the facility continues to draw up to 139 million gallons of water daily from Seneca Lake and emits nearly half a million tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Key details regarding the rally, legislative proposals, and community concerns include:
- Event Logistics: The press conference begins at noon at the Finger Lakes Welcome Center in Geneva and will be live-streamed for the public.
- Featured Speakers: Scheduled speakers include Sen. Kristen Gonzalez; Assemblymember Anne Kelles (D-125); Joseph Campbell and Yvonne Taylor of Seneca Lake Guardian; Laura Shindell of Food & Water Watch; and Dr. Robert Howarth, ecology professor at Cornell University.
- Legislative Demands: The Responsible Data Center Development Act would enforce a one-year moratorium on hyperscale data centers exceeding 20 megawatts. It also mandates energy-efficiency standards, public benefit programs, project labor agreements, and mandatory public hearings prior to permit approvals.
- Executive Order Comparison: While Gov. Hochul signed Executive Order No. 62 on July 14 placing a temporary pause on facilities over 50 megawatts, activists contend the measure leaves policy gaps compared to Gonzalez’s legislation.
