Letter from Will Rivera

Rivera: More Questions than Answers

The Town of Oneonta is facing a pivotal decision that could permanently alter the future of the West End. A proposal submitted by EcoYotta Inc. seeks to rezone 153 acres of land, currently zoned for residential-agricultural use, into an industrial development district to make way for a data center. But the application, as it stands, is glaringly incomplete. I’ve spoken with neighbors who still don’t know what this project means for their daily lives. That’s not how local governments should work. Transparency isn’t optional; it is the bare minimum.

Even more troubling, if the data center never comes to fruition, the rezoning would still be in place, leaving the door wide open for far more intense and incompatible industrial developments in the future. If we care about the future of the West End, we can’t afford to gamble it away on blind approvals and blank spaces.

The gaps in the proposal are not minor. Town officials and our community members deserve clear answers to basic questions: Why must 153 acres be rezoned for industrial use? How much water will the facility consume, and where will that water come from? What emissions, noise, and traffic should neighbors expect from backup generators, cooling systems, and construction? How will water use, light pollution, energy use, and potential future expansion affect nearby homes, farms, and wells? A project of this scale requires transparency and accountability, not guesswork and vague promises. Our community deserves to be informed, heard and supported by its leadership.

There is no doubt about it: This data center will fundamentally transform the character of the West End. Data centers are known for their immense water needs, with larger facilities consuming millions of gallons per month to cool their servers. In a community that relies heavily on private wells, groundwater is an essential resource that supports its very survival. We can’t trade our most basic needs for speculative promises from a developer that doesn’t live here and won’t drink from our wells.

The energy demands are equally concerning. These facilities are prime customers for natural gas, risking our forests, streams, and clean air by reigniting pressure for projects like the Constitution Pipeline, which has recently been resurrected and awaits a decision by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on a 401 water quality permit for construction.

Perhaps the most serious risk lies in what happens if the data center doesn’t get built. Once land is rezoned for industrial use, it stays that way, opening the door to future proposals for warehouses, distribution centers, or other large-scale industrial projects. We’ve seen what that can look like, with facilities like the pet food plant in Sherburne disrupting the rural fabric of entire communities. Approving this rezoning would be a green light for similar outcomes here.

Let me be clear: I am not opposed to growth. But growth must be thoughtful, community-driven and transparent. This proposal fails every one of those tests. It threatens our environment, our water, and our way of life—and it offers little in return.

I’m running for town supervisor because we need leadership that listens before it signs off. That asks the tough questions. That puts people before politics. And right now that’s not happening. We should not be rushed or pressured into a decision that carries such lasting consequences. We owe it to ourselves to protect what makes our town special. Let’s show them what local action looks like, grounded in care, fueled by trust, and led by the people who call Oneonta home.

I urge all concerned residents to join me at the Oneonta Town Board meeting on Wednesday, August 13 and speak out against this proposal. Let’s make it clear: The future of the West End should be shaped by the people who live here, not by an out-of-town developer with more questions than answers.

Will Rivera
Oneonta