Genesee offering too much in incentives at STAMP for Stream Data Centers

Editor:

As a resident of Genesee County, I am hopeful for the possibility of AI when used to solve problems and further progress for us all. However, I have serious concerns about US Stream Data Centers and their proposal to build a massive data center complex at the STAMP site in Alabama, NY. I also have several unanswered questions.

Just last month, I attended the Stream open house at the Alabama Fire Hall; I arrived open minded and eager to learn, but left deeply disappointed that there was no formal presentation from the company and no space for meaningful public dialogue.

All conversations were one on one or in small groups. It was a spectacle that struck me to be as disingenuous as it was strategic. When I expressed my concerns to Stream, I was told by two representatives that the engineers do not feel comfortable presenting to a large public group. I have to ask: How is it that a company that is planning to make a 19-billion-dollar investment can’t figure out how to hire someone to moderate a presentation or panel discussion with the engineers?

That brings me to my next question: Do New Yorkers really want to fund a for-profit company with our tax dollars? A recent article in the Batavian announced Stream donated $50,000 to the Oakfield Alabama School District. But this comes on the heels of them requesting $1.4 billion in tax subsidies. More than that, the average expenditure per student in Genesee County is just under $23,000 per year and in Oakfield Alabama is around $24,000 per year (data.nysed.gov), so what they’ve donated equates to chump change. To me, it speaks to how little they value the community’s future and their partnership with it. Sure, they donated $50,000, but they are asking for  $1.44 billion dollars, which averages to $46 million a year over 30 years. Are we really supposed to play along or pretend we don’t see how lopsided this agreement is?

Another question I have is about the future price we’ll be paying, not just with our tax dollars, but with the increases in electricity rates over time. The 500-megawatt demand the data center would place on the grid will mean more electricity would be used. Unfortunately, with the way power is delivered and priced, such a huge increase in demand will pass on that cost to all end users. For those already struggling with the cost of gas, groceries, and their current electric bill- we do not need our finances to be stretched any further by private for-profit companies over-using our shared utilities.

I encourage the GCEDC to reThink STAMP and for all who want to learn more and/or lend their voice to their public hearing on the financial incentives on March 19th at 7 p.m. at the Town of Alabama Fire Hall 2230 Judge Rd Basom, NY. I will see you there. For more info, check out Allies of TSN’s website, Facebook group STOP the STAMP Monster Data Center. Call / text: (585) 300-4925.

Very truly yours,

Em Grant

Bergen