Batavia data center gets nod as residents worry about it ‘gobbling up’ energy reserves

A data center similar to this one has advanced in Batavia. Courtesy of Business Wire

The Batavia City Council has approved a service agreement to provide energy for a proposed 50-megawatt data center on the city’s northeast side, despite concerns raised by residents during extensive discussion at recent meetings.

Miami-based energy and digital infrastructure company Hut 8 Corp. plans to build a $500 million, 120,000-square-feet data center on the vacant industrial park lot at 1780 Hubbard Ave.

The agreement was approved at a July 21 city council meeting, despite concerns from residents over the data center’s water and energy usage, environmental pollution and a perceived lack of transparency by the city.

Though the agreement was approved quickly, city council members, city staff, Hut