The site developer of the former Tonawanda Coke, Riverview Innovation Technology Campus (an affiliate of Ontario Specialty Contracting) plans to build the first in a series of data centers on the parcels, with stated plans to start construction at 3875 River Road in Q3 of this year. You can view their submitted proposal here.

We have heard from our members and supporters that this is NOT their preferred future for this site, and that they want to instead see renewable power generation like solar or thermal energy (UTENs) and battery storage instead.

However, lawmakers and the developers need to hear this too - so we are launching a visibility campaign using lawn signs, with an aim for at least 100 distributed by the end of June and at least an additional 150 by the end of the summer. We are largely aiming for placements in the Town of Tonawanda, but are also asking members and supporters throughout the region to host, as we all will bear the energy costs of this and other planned data centers regardless of municipal borders.

Lawn signs will be available by June 1 and will either be available for pick up at our office (371 Delaware Ave Suite 6 Buffalo), at events in Tonawanda this summer, or for drop off.

A bulk order of lawn signs costs ~$5 per sign. We are asking ~$10 (sliding scale) donation per sign to cover the cost and to give a bit of flexibility to give some away for free to our members who are less able to pay the cost. Any additional funds raised not used for printing costs will be used for our campaign work.

Please fill out this form if you would like to support this effort either by donating or hosting a sign, and be sure to click through to the payment page.

Please also note the poll for the message on the lawn signs - if you have an alternative idea, please use the "Other" button to submit.

Much more to come!