{
  "id": 13118285,
  "title": "‘This is not an anti-tech town’: backlash to datacenter in city once home to IBM",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/this-is-not-an-anti-tech-town-backlash-to-datacenter-in-city-once",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-09T13:00:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian US",
    "slug": "the-guardian-us",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/09/datacenter-backlash-ibm-east-fishkill-new-york"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In East Fishkill, New York, residents are protesting the construction of a massive AI datacenter that would span over 1 million square feet and generate up to 1 gigawatt of power. The town, once a hub for IBM's semiconductor research and manufacturing, has a long history of embracing technological advancements. However, the proposed datacenter has sparked a fierce backlash, with opposition mounting before any permits were even applied for.\n\nThe developer behind the project, Treetop Companies, purchased property in East Fishkill intending to pursue approvals for a warehouse development. It was only later discovered that the company, through a local property owner, had submitted an application to the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) for the necessary electrical service to support a large-scale AI datacenter.\n\nResidents expressed their concerns over the town's inability to review or reject any datacenter applications due to the absence of a formal permit. While the town's existing zoning laws do not permit large data centers, a three-year moratorium was imposed in late June to allow for further study and discussion on the potential impacts on water resources and local ecosystems. This moratorium was unanimously adopted by the town board.\n\nThe developer has since appealed the measure, arguing that the town needs to consider the long-term benefits of AI infrastructure. However, residents emphasize that their opposition is not anti-tech; instead, it is directed at the unprecedented scale of the proposed facility. They question whether the economic benefits would justify the significant consumption of electricity, water, and land required for such a large datacenter.\n\nThe controversy has highlighted a growing divide across the nation, as both rural towns and communities that once welcomed high-tech development are increasingly questioning the value of AI infrastructure. While acknowledging the potential benefits of technology, residents in East Fishkill are determined to protect their community's character, environmental quality, and long-term cohesiveness from the massive energy demands of a single datacenter.",
  "summary": "Fight in East Fishkill, New York, part of a growing divide over whether AI benefits outweigh enormous downsides For decades, East Fishkill helped build New York’s tech industry. The hamlet, located 70 miles north of New York City, was home to a 460-acre campus where IBM researched and manufactured semiconductor chips for nearly fifty years. Continue reading...",
  "key_points": [
    "East Fishkill, NY residents protest 1 million sq ft AI datacenter",
    "Town once home to IBM semiconductor research faces opposition",
    "Moratorium imposed to study impacts on water, ecosystems"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Business",
        "title": "‘This is not an anti-tech town’: backlash to datacenter in city once home to IBM",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/this-is-not-an-anti-tech-town-backlash-to-datacenter-in-city-once-13126417",
        "published": "2026-10-09T13:00:28.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}