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Questions about Batavia’s data center project? Perhaps you’ll find answers here.
The City of Batavia updated its data center project page this week based on specific issues residents have been asking about.
A quick project refresher: the city has an agreement with Batavia DC Corp (a subsidiary of Miami-based Hut 8 Corporation) for the construction of a roughly 120,000-square-foot, $500 million facility planned for 1780 Hubbard Ave.
Hut 8 is expected to pay for $18 million in off-site electrical improvements, which the city will reimburse over several years using revenue generated by the project.
Here’s an overview of this week’s updates:
Noise limits: Subject to the city’s current noise ordinance, the data center can't exceed 65 decibels at its property line (which is roughly the volume of normal conversation). For nearby homes, the limit drops to 60 decibels during the day and 50 at night, similar to the sound of a refrigerator running.
Water use: The site will use a closed-loop cooling system, meaning water gets reused rather continuously evaporated. The city says it will cap daily water use at an average of 1,000 gallons, compared to about 400 gallons for a typical household. The system’s original fill will require 450,000 gallons (transported by the developer, not taken from Batavia’s system), which is expected to last more than five years before it needs replacing.
City revenue projections: At its initial 20-megawatt level, the city projects about $2.3 million a year in electric utility revenue plus $375,000 in franchise fees. If the facility grows to its full 50-megawatt capacity, those numbers would reach roughly $5.5 million and $800,000 a year.
Economic factors: The city estimates that the project will generate approximately $800,000 in property-tax revenue and employ about 30 people with permanent jobs.
You can review the full update, including agreement details, FAQs, and recordings of past public meetings, on the project page.
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