Tonawanda, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Town of Tonawanda Town Board unanimously approved a one-year ban on new data centers Monday night.
During the one-year period, building permit applications and requests for site plan approvals cannot be filed, accepted, or processed by the town.
The Town Board will use the one-year pause to consider new zoning regulations.
"There is only one application for a data center here in Tonawanda," said Supervisor John Flynn at the beginning of the public hearing. "There are no other applications. Our moratorium, which mimics Gov. Hochul's executive order, states that new applications are not going to be accepted for a year."
Flynn adds there is no way for a developer to "back door" their way into establishing a new data center while the moratorium is active.
"I know there is concern about the moratorium that a developer will be able to slip through the governor's executive order and our moratorium. I can tell you unequivocally that is not true. I'm telling you now, there is no back door," Flynn said.
Data centers have become a polarizing topic locally and across the United States. Critics point to noise and light pollution, and the amount of water the massive facilities use, among other concerns. Those in favor of the construction of data centers cite economic benefits, noting a ban prevents new companies from coming to New York State and puts the state behind in the AI race.
