Group seeks stronger environmental review at STAMP

Press Release, Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation

Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation welcomes Governor Kathy Hochul’s one-year moratorium on new hyperscale data center construction in our state. We agree that more study is needed to assess the impacts of these facilities on our shared environment – our waters, air, and plant and animal species – and on our utility rates, electrical grid, and quality of life.

The moratorium pauses permitting for data center project applications, like those of STREAM’s proposed data center at STAMP, that have not yet been deemed complete by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). During the pause created by the moratorium, the Department of Public Service and DEC will carry out a General Environmental Impact Study in relation to data centers in the State, in order “to assess the potential environmental impacts of the construction and operation of data centers in the State, including energy demand, water use and quality, air quality, disproportionate impacts on disadvantaged communities, and noise levels.”

We urge GCEDC, the STAMP developer, to use the moratorium pause to conduct its own Environmental Impact Study of the possible impacts of data centers at STAMP, something DEC first called upon GCEDC to do over six months ago, but which GCEDC has thus far refused to do.

Over the last many months, residents of the GLOW Region and our statewide allies have powerfully and repeatedly called on local and statewide decisionmakers – including Governor Hochul – to stop the STAMP data center. We have demanded that they listen and take action in response to our overwhelming opposition. This moratorium is an appropriate response to our community’s serious concerns about hyperscale data centers and the impacts they will cause on our neighborhoods, our way of life and cost of living, and our environment.

We know who would profit from this data center: Big Tech, Private Equity, and GCEDC – not Genesee County residents or the Tonawanda Seneca Nation. We will continue to fight to protect our communities, our environment, and a livable future for us all.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand also issued a statement in response to the one-year moratorium

“I applaud Governor Hochul for taking decisive action on data center construction. Today’s executive order sends a clear message New Yorkers deserve a say in how this technology impacts their lives and communities.

“This one-year moratorium is fundamentally about trust. Right now, New Yorkers aren’t convinced these massive facilities benefit them. Before we move forward, our communities need ironclad guarantees that their energy bills won’t spike, their water will be protected, and their air will remain clean.

“At the federal level, my mission is to ensure AI innovation benefits every American, not just a powerful few. That requires establishing clear, reliable rules of the road. We must build a framework that protects our kids from harmful algorithms and social media tools; shields seniors and consumers from AI-driven scams and fraud; and safeguards American jobs and livelihoods from displacement.”

Governor seeks to repeal sales tax exemptions for projects

File photo by Tom Rivers: A massive data center, totaling 2.2 million square feet, has been proposed for the STAMP site off Route 63 in the town of Alabama. Stream US Data Centers said it would spend $19 billion on the project. Stream is seeking $1.43 billion in sales tax exemptions – $715,944,000 locally and $715,944,000 to the state.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed an Executive Order to create the nation’s first moratorium on new hyperscale data centers, establishing the strongest standards for data center development and creating a blueprint to support localities.

The Governor is temporarily pausing State environmental permits for up to one year in order to build a nation-leading regulatory framework that protects ratepayers, the environment, the energy grid and communities across the state.

“New York has always been at the forefront of innovation and change but we’ve also always guaranteed that New Yorkers benefit. As data center development threatens to hike up utility bills, deplete our natural resources, and create uncertainty for New Yorkers, it’s my responsibility to take action and lead,” Governor Hochul said. “New York will lead the way in creating the strongest standards in the nation for data center development, ensuring that when companies succeed because of New York, New Yorkers succeed too.”

New York State is experiencing unprecedented growth in demand for data center development driven by artificial intelligence and other computing operations. The increase in demand has led to proposals across the state for the construction and operation of data centers that could require massive amounts of energy and water to run and cool thousands of computer servers.

Earlier this year, the Governor directed the Department of Public Service (DPS) to begin the Energize NY proceeding, which will require data centers to either pay more for their energy or supply their own, allowing the state to keep energy more affordable for New Yorkers.

As part of that proceeding, the Governor is now also directing DPS to develop a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for data centers to ensure new data centers coming online are being held to consistent standards. During the development of this GEIS, which will take up to a year, a moratorium will be in place and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will not issue any discretionary permits not already deemed complete.

The state will use the GEIS to assess the potential environmental impacts of the construction and operation of data centers in the state, including their effect on energy demand, water use and quality, and air quality. Once the State finalizes these standards, the moratorium will be lifted, allowing new data center projects to proceed as long as they follow state, zoning code and other local approvals.

Dr. Kirk Scirto, a family medicine specialist at Tonawanda Family Care Center, spoke at public hearings on Feb. 3, 2025 at the Alabama Fire Hall. He called data centers “parasitic centers.” He said the constant noise from the data centers is comparable to the sounds of jet engines. The impact from the noise and light will have negative impacts on neighbors and wildlife, he said.

The Governor also directed Empire State Development (ESD) to issue a Community Investment Framework (CIF) within 60 days, which will provide clear guidance to local entities to help them negotiate community benefits as part of any large-scale data center deal, including local infrastructure improvements, child care investments, and direct financial support for their community.

The CIF will also establish frameworks that provide organized labor a seat at the table and prioritize prevailing wage standards and project labor agreements for data center construction, local hiring, apprenticeships and workforce development to maximize economic benefits. This framework will additionally include a formula to help communities assess where to begin investment negotiations. An outline of the CIF is currently available on ESD’s website, and the public is encouraged to submit feedback.

Additionally, the Governor is directing DPS to consider creating a New York Grid Acceleration Fund to require data centers to invest in the state’s aging grid infrastructure and energy needs so all New Yorkers benefit from responsible development. The fund could support the procurement of new clean energy supply and establishment of an insurance pool to which developers may need to contribute to protect against speculative large loads that create uncertainty and increase costs. DPS will also consider approaches to require data centers to fund new clean electric generation dedicated to their operations, including but not limited to customer-sited distributed energy resources and battery storage.

Finally, Governor Hochul is pursuing legislation to repeal sales tax exemptions for massive data centers across the state.

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has ensured New York is leading the nation in AI innovation and development. As part of her FY25 Budget, the Governor launched Empire AI, a nation-leading initiative to advance AI research for public good. This year, she launched the FutureWorks Commission to advise on policy and private sector actions to protect the security of workers while harnessing the economic benefits of AI for all New Yorkers. This blue ribbon Commission is composed of nation-leading experts, workers’ advocates, and business leaders, and will be charged with advising Governor Hochul on how to navigate the AI transition, so that the benefits of AI can be shared among New York’s families, workers, and small businesses — not just large corporations.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York has made significant strides in its ongoing efforts to protect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients’ benefits from theft and that new, more secure chip-based cards will be issued beginning early in 2027.

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) recently finalized a contract with a vendor to provide the cards, which are expected to greatly limit theft of benefits by criminals using illegal “skimming” devices.

“We are committed to protecting New Yorkers from benefit theft and modernizing our EBT system is the most effective tool we have to prevent heartless criminals from preying on some of our most vulnerable residents,” Governor Hochul said. “As the federal administration continues to undermine efforts to address food insecurity and hunger, New York remains focused on uplifting families and ensuring they have the help they need to put food on the table.”

Fidelity Information Services, LLC (FIS) will provide the new cards, which utilize chip technology that is standard with commercial debit and credit cards. The Federal Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system, which is used nationally to distribute and use SNAP benefits, only recently gained the ability to accept chip cards. The new cards will begin being issued to recipients in the first quarter of 2027.

The Governor directed OTDA earlier this year to implement this priority as quickly as possible. OTDA proactively issued a request for proposals for a new EBT card vendor capable of providing cards with chips that are more secure than the existing cards – to be prepared to transition once funding was secured.

New York is one of just a handful of states transitioning to secure, chip-based EBT card technology. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, five states have already issued chip cards and five more states, including New York, are in progress.

The funding to support the transition was included by the Governor and the Legislature in the FY 2027 Budget. About two million new cards are expected to be issued.

OTDA recently began outreach to retailers and financial institutions encouraging them to make sure their systems and equipment are updated to accept the new EBT chip cards before the end of the year, so that they can continue accepting SNAP benefits as payment when the new cards are issued.

EBT cardholders will be notified before their new card is issued.

There has been increased awareness in recent years of the use of skimming devices to capture recipients’ card information and PIN, with criminals using skimmed information to access accounts and steal the recipients’ benefits before recipients have a chance to spend them. However, the federal government stopped funding replacement benefits at the end of 2024 for SNAP recipients who had their benefits stolen and the Trump Administration has refused to consider reauthorizing such replacement.

The new EBT cards, which are also used by Public Assistance recipients to access their benefits, will be virtually impervious to skimming, helping safeguard the dollars that New Yorkers depend on to feed their families.

OTDA has worked steadily toward transitioning to the use of EBT chip cards to help protect recipients’ benefits from electronic theft, while taking steps to raise awareness and encouraging recipients to do what they can to protect their benefits. EBT cardholders can help protect their benefits by using the freeze/unfreeze card feature in the ebtEDGE mobile app or online cardholder portal. They can also choose to block online and out-of-state purchases.

OTDA, local departments of social services, or the EBT card provider will never contact clients asking for EBT information. EBT cardholders should never give their EBT card information in response to emails, text messages, or phone calls. Thieves can use this information to access your account and spend your SNAP and cash benefits.

Resources to assist the public with information about EBT scams and how to protect their benefits can be found at otda.ny.gov/ebtscam.

NYS Association of Counties Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario said, “County social services departments across New York strongly support the transition to chip-enabled Electronic Benefit Transfer cards for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This upgrade is a practical and necessary step to strengthen program integrity, reduce fraud, and ensure that benefits reach the individuals and families who truly need them. As local administrators of SNAP, we see firsthand the importance of modernizing our systems to keep pace with evolving threats while maintaining efficient access for recipients. Governor Hochul’s leadership in launching this initiative reflects a commitment to good government—one that balances accountability with service. At a time when recent changes to federal funding formulas have increased fiscal challenges for localities, investments like this help safeguard public resources and reinforce confidence in the program.”

American Legion in Lyndonville making its trolley available for fair

Photo by Tom Rivers: The American Legion in Lyndonville gives veterans a ride on a trolley during the July 4th parade.

Press Release, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County

KNOWLESVILLE – Visitors attending the 2026 Orleans County 4-H Fair will have a new and convenient way to travel between the general parking area and the fairgrounds.

Thanks to the generosity of American Legion Houseman-Tanner Post 1603, a tram will be available to transport fairgoers to and from the Taylor Hill Road parking lot and the main fairgrounds. The new service is intended to make arrival and departure easier and more comfortable for families, older adults, and anyone who may need a little extra help getting between their vehicle and the fair.

GO ART! will staff the tram daily from 4 to 8 p.m., with trips approximately every 15 minutes. During other fair hours, tram service will be available upon request.

All general visitor parking will be located in the Taylor Hill Road parking lot. The tram will travel through the lot and pick up and drop off passengers along every other parking row. On the fairgrounds, passengers will be picked up and dropped off near the green bathroom.

Parking on Wood Road will be limited to exhibitors and their families. General fair visitors should plan to enter and park using the Taylor Hill Road lot and follow the directions of parking attendants and posted signs.

A limited number of wheelchairs, wagons and strollers will also be available to sign out free of charge from the Sensory Room located in the Education Center. Transportation assistance devices will be available on a first come, first served basis and should be returned after use so they remain available for other fairgoers.

The Orleans County 4-H Fair is grateful to American Legion Houseman-Tanner Post 1603 for providing the tram and to GO ART! for helping staff this new service. Their support will help make the fairgrounds more welcoming and accessible for everyone.

The 2026 Orleans County 4-H Fair will take place July 27 through Aug. 1 at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Stawicki – Some ducks were out enjoying the sunrise on Glenwood Lake in Medina this morning while the sun came up.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Orleans County and Western New York on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In Orleans County, the high temperature is forecast to reach 94 degrees with heat index values as high as 105.

“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” the Weather Service advised. “Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. This is especially true during hot weather when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.”

Today is forecast to reach 90 degrees, followed by highs of 94 on Tuesday, 90 on Wednesday, 88 on Thursday, 84 on Friday and 85 on Saturday.