FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
- Emily La
- Sustainable Finger Lakes
- Tel: 607-272-1720
- Email: emily@sustainablefingerlakes.org
ITHACA, NY—February 24, 2026— Across the country, local communities are organizing to protest plans for massive AI data centers in their neighborhoods that drive up electricity prices for everyone, threaten water supplies and disrupt lives. New York needs to get ahead of the problem by imposing a temporary moratorium on data center development while we figure out how, and if, their negative impacts can be eliminated.
Sustainable Finger Lakes (SFLX) is hosting a panel discussion to hear from Assemblywoman Anna Kelles, sponsor of the moratorium bill in the Assembly; Eric Weltman, Senior Organizer for Food & Water Watch, who helped push for a moratorium in NYS; and Allison DeSario, member of the FLX Strong citizen group protesting the creation of a 400 MW hyperscale AI data center on the shores of Cayuga Lake. SFLX has been represented alongside other environmental advocates against the development.
The Finger Lakes Forecast webinars were launched in 2022 to explore the diverse ways the Finger Lakes Region will be impacted by climate change. Topics explored included flooding, harmful algae blooms, renewable energy siting, and food security. This Spring, a series of four webinars will address various environmental, health, and economic issues, starting with the significant impacts of the rapid expansion of AI data centers.
Gay Nicholson, President of Sustainable Finger Lakes, shares, “We hope elected officials, educators, and the interested public will join us once again for these noon ‘lunch and learn’ webinars.” These panel discussions are held virtually to encourage attendees from all across the region and state. “We all need to be looking ahead at emerging issues and do our best to be informed and proactive in finding solutions.”
Register for the March 11 webinar at: bit.ly/sflxwebinar1. For more information, visit www.sustainablefingerlakes.org/finger-lakes-forecast-webinar-series/
About Sustainable Finger Lakes
Sustainable Finger Lakes (SFLX) is a community-based organization whose mission is to promote the long-term well-being of the region by integrating social equity, economic vitality, ecological stewardship, and shared responsibility.
