On a recent episode of WXXI’s “Connections with Evan Dawson,” the debate over proposed data centers in Western New York took center stage as communities grapple with the economic opportunities and environmental concerns surrounding the rapidly growing industry. The discussion focused on proposals across the Finger Lakes, including a potential data center at an existing cryptocurrency mining facility along Seneca Lake, where opponents have raised concerns about noise, pollution and energy consumption. Guests Steve Griffin, CEO of the Finger Lakes Economic Development Center; Jason Leifer, Dryden town supervisor; and Yvonne Taylor, vice president of Seneca Lake Guardian, explored the competing interests, the role of local governments and the broader implications of artificial intelligence-driven development. The conversation also examined Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive order imposing a one-year moratorium on new hyperscale data center development.
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