Massena resident threatens lawsuit over proposed data center expansion

A Massena resident has threatened to pursue a class action lawsuit against the town and Town Board if a planned NYDIG expansion moves forward, according to information presented at a special meeting Oct. 5.

The proposed project involves a 1.5 million-square-foot expansion at the former Alcoa East site. The source material says the project is in the planning stage, while a state moratorium on hyperscale data centers and a review by the Department of Environmental Conservation remain in effect. The town’s deputy supervisor said additional state reviews and permitting are still needed before work can begin.

The resident also questioned whether work at the site, including land clearing, was proceeding with the required permits. NYDIG officials have maintained that the project can proceed without additional DEC approval. Those claims and the status of any permits were not independently verified in the submitted material.