SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon has issued a directive creating a new data center investigative task force and prompting the county to spend as much as $500,000 on a study to analyze the impact of data centers and evaluate potential sites for development. The study is expected to be finished within six months.
At a press conference Monday, McMahon clarified that the purpose of this initiative is not to approve – or disprove – such centers in Onondaga County.
“We don’t control whether or not to have a data center,” said McMahon. “This is specific to looking at best practices.”
Some citizens in attendance were opposed to the effort.
“I’m curious why we would spend $500,000 to study that we should not build a data center, if that’s where [McMahon’s] mind is really at,” said Brian, an Onondaga County resident who asked not to be identified by his full name due to the sensitivity of the subject.
Brian worries about the environmental concerns and infrastructure strain data centers can cause communities. His concerns mirror those that have been brought up in municipality meetings throughout Onondaga County, as discussions about data center moratoriums gain traction.
“I think this was a thinly veiled attempt to put the issue of a data center in front of the public,” said Brian, “but in a way no one really realizes.”
Conversely, some are positive about the new efforts. Sara Bollinger, town supervisor of Manlius, said that the results of the study could be helpful as her town tangles with the data center issue.
“The main thing we want to do is learn more … we were concerned that if we got an application now, we’re not really prepared,” said Bollinger. “I think [the study] would be a great benefit … We would have much better information upon which to base a decision, so we could make a wise decision about where to allow a data center to come if one should apply.”
Lysander town supervisor Kevin Rode is similarly appreciative of the new efforts. In a statement to NCC News, Rode wrote, “We look forward to working together with the County while our own advisory committee also comprehends the issue and determines how best to handle this possible type of development within our own community. We will be dissecting many of the same issues and impacts at our respective levels of government.”
Lysander became the first town in Onondaga County to pass a data center moratorium in May, preventing any building for six months.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Ryan McMahon establishes a new data center taskforce, directs county to spend up to $500,000 on study
Evan Harrington: Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon is announcing new efforts to monitor data centers in Central New York. NCC News reporter Megan Acker was at that press conference. Megan, can you tell us more about what McMahon is planning?
Megan Acker: That’s right guys, there have been conversations all around on Onondaga County about data centers, and it seems like those conversations have finally made their way to the top. That is, of the Civic Center. I was on the 14th floor today, learning about Ryan McMahon’s new initiative that includes a half $1 million study and a joint initiative to learn more about these data centers. McMahon says the task force will be a collaboration between economic development, the Department of Planning, the Department of Water and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Water Authority and the county health department.
Ryan McMahon: We’re looking at our best practices as technology, design standards, doing a real study that local municipalities have. And that’s essentially what some of these communities have asked for.
Acker: One such municipality is Manlius, where Supervisor Sara Bollinger says that the town is considering a moratorium because they need more time to decide if data centers are right for their community.
Sara Bollinger: We were concerned that if we got an application now, we’re really not prepared. We now understand that the county may be doing a study to better understand the impact of data centers on water and power usage, which is very important to our residents.
Acker: But not everyone is on board.
Ryan McMahon: There are cases where communities are pleased with the development that has happened, and there’s cases where the community is not.
Brian: Name one where they’re pleased.
Acker: Brian is an Onondaga County resident who’s against data centers and is nervous that this is a step towards bringing them to CNY.
Brian: I think that this was a thinly veiled attempt to put the issue of a data center in front of the public, but like in a way that nobody really notices.
Acker: Now, folks, Ryan McMahon says there’s currently no plans for a data center in Onondaga County at this point. Back to you in the studio.