Henrietta proposes town code change for data centers

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Town of Henrietta is proposing to change local laws regarding data centers.

At a town board meeting on Wednesday, town officials explained that the proposed law would have data centers fall under incentive zoning. The town board explains that the burden of proof reverses to the applicant, and that they have to show why their project would benefit the town.

In this case, according to the town, the data centers would have to provide community benefits. For example, the town supervisor explains that data centers have adverse effects on power, but under this town code change, the center would have to upgrade substations to provide more power to the town.

The town says that if incoming data centers are unwilling to provide community benefits, they will deny the application.

Earlier this month, Governor Hochul put a freeze on new “hyperscale” data centers statewide. Henrietta residents have asked what the point is of changing the town code if their moratorium is in place. Town officials explain that the freeze is for larger data centers.

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