BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

CANTON — Canton’s new Data Center Committee is gathering information on data center development as the town continues to consider how it should address potential projects.

Committee Chairman Randy Brown told the Canton Town Board that he has been collecting information and will place links and other materials in a shared file so committee members can review them.

“We’re just going to do shared files that everyone can look at,” Brown said.

Brown said he has found information from other communities, including materials from the Town of Dryden related to a completed data center town law He plans to add those materials to the shared files as he finds them.

The committee was formed after Canton officials began receiving significant public input about data centers. Town Councilors Brown and Greg Kiah were appointed to lead the research effort.

The town enacted a moratorium on data center development July 8. The committee’s work includes looking at how other municipalities have handled data centers and what local rules might be needed.

The issue has drawn attention across St. Lawrence County, with potential data center development also being discussed in communities including Massena and Potsdam.

St. Lawrence County legislators also discussed  data center moratoriums, but said ultimately such actions would need to be taken by local municipalities. 

New York State feels differently though. A blanket moratorium on data centers was passed by the state Assembly and Senate, but was not signed by Governor Kathy Hochul. However, Hochul has implemented a moratorium on data centers via an executive order, which is separate and distinct from the one passed by the state legislature.

Canton Town Supervisor Jim Smith previously said the town needs to gather information from other municipalities before deciding what approach to take.

Smith said the committee’s research could eventually lead to local regulations governing data centers, similar to the town’s approach to solar development.

For now, Brown said the committee is focused on building its information base and making sure members have access to the same material as they continue their work.

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