The former Tonawanda Coke industrial site on River Road is at the center of a heated debate in the Town of Tonawanda. A proposed AI data center project, valued at $2 billion, has sparked intense discussion among residents and local officials. The 500,000-square-foot facility would require significant electrical infrastructure, including a $50 million substation, and operate at 300 megawatts of power.

On Wednesday night, the Town of Tonawanda Planning Board held a meeting that drew a large crowd of concerned residents. While the formal review was paused, the board opened the floor for public commentary, allowing community members to voice their apprehensions about the project.

Community concerns take center stage

Bridge Rauch of the Clean Air Coalition NY urged the planning board to prioritize community needs over financial gains. “This project will come back to this body to consider; please consider that the highest and best use is not necessarily the fastest money that can be made, but the best use that fits the community needs and the community desires,” Rauch stated.

Noise pollution emerged as a significant concern for many residents. Jamie Moore highlighted the potential health risks associated with the facility’s cooling systems. “Prolonged exposure above 70 decibels of sound is considered unsafe. These cooling systems typically operate at 75 to 105 decibibels or greater, and the sound emitting from a data center wouldn’t just be prolonged, it would be constant because the servers run 24/7 and they require perpetual cooling,” Moore explained.

A Buffalo native, who identified himself only as Jaden, drew a sobering comparison to the Love Canal environmental disaster. “Clay was poured over toxic waste in the Love Canal neighborhood in 1953 and continues to affect people today. If we build this plant in 2026, how many years will the negative effects reach our friends, our family, generations to come? How many people is this going to affect and how many people does it need to affect for this plant to be a bad idea?”

Calls for a moratorium and legislative action

Some residents called for a pause on the project to allow for further research and consideration. One unidentified resident suggested a three-year moratorium to study similar facilities and gather data. “The only way that we know what’s going to happen with this place is to look at other places like it. And the only way we’re going to know how much time we’re going to need to gather data is to have a moratorium,” the resident said.

Elected leaders in the New York State Senate and Assembly have responded to community concerns with proposed legislation. Assemblyman Bill Conrad, representing the 140th Assembly District, announced his support for a moratorium on new data center permits. Conrad emphasized the importance of responsible management of the AI boom and the need to consider the unique history of the former Tonawanda Coke site.

“In my district, we have the former Tonawanda Coke site along the Niagara River. Its story is one of lasting trauma for Western New York – 160 acres of legacy pollution, corporate criminality, and much suffering,” Conrad stated. He acknowledged the developer’s efforts in cleaning up the site but stressed the need for careful consideration of the project’s impacts.

Developer’s response and next steps

The developer behind the proposed project, Riverview Innovation & Technology Campusissued a statement clarifying the project’s status. While the project is not on hold, the developer has temporarily delayed the SEQRA and site plan review process with the Town of Tonawanda Planning Board. This delay is due to ongoing discussions with the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) and National Grid regarding power availability and potential infrastructure upgrades.

The NYISO released a statement clarifying its role in the process. “The NYISO does not approve, deny, or direct whether any project proceeds. Decisions about whether a facility is built are made through local siting approvals, state regulatory processes and agreements with the local utility. The NYISO’s responsibility is to ensure that, regardless of those decisions, the grid can continue to operate reliably in the interest of the health and safety of consumers,” said Kevin Lanahan, NYISO Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Corporate Communications.

As the debate continues, the future of the former Tonawanda Coke site remains uncertain. The community’s concerns about environmental impact, health risks, and the site’s history are shaping the discussion, while developers and legislators work to address these issues and find a path forward.