Stream Data Centers will acquire another major piece of property at a Genesee County manufacturing park, paving the way for an $11.2 billion data center.
The $132.5 million acquisition comes from Plug Power, which was building a clean hydrogen facility at the Western New York Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park mega-site in Alabama, Genesee County. Construction on the site halted last November and the sale of the property is part of an initiative to generate more than $275 million for the company.
The sale, which can net up to $142 million for Plug Power based on certain conditions, includes the land, infrastructure, some substation-related assets and certain agreements. It is expected to close by June.
Deal could clear path for $11.2B data center while fueling debate over costs and impacts
Stream Data Center is looking to build a 2.2 million-square-foot data center campus comprised of three two-story buildings on 130 acres within STAMP. The data center is expected to create 125 jobs, not including construction.
The data center project is opposed by the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, some nearby residents and environmental activists over concerns of impacts on nearby properties, environmental resources like the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and utility bills. The STAMP property abuts the nation’s land, as well as the refuge, and the nearest town is Alabama, with a population of about 1,777.
The company claims its design will use very little water and be optimized to reduce noise and light pollution. Critics worry about the impacts of not just water and pollution but also subsidized electricity costs and taxpayer money for the project.
Stream Data Centers has proposed contributing $285 million over a 30-year-period to local taxing entities in lieu of taxes, as well as $50 million in electrical infrastructure and $18 million in local and state sales tax revenue on electrical usage. It’s requesting a sales tax exemption of $769.5 million and a mortgage tax exemption of $31 million.
— Steve Howe reports on suburban growth, development and environment for the Democrat and Chronicle. An RIT graduate, he has covered myriad topics over the years, including public safety, local government, national politics and economic development in New York and Utah.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Plug Power sells STAMP property as data center plans advance
Reporting by Steve Howe, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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