Tioga County adopts data-center ordinance; residents raise questions on noise, water and economic benefit

The Tioga County Board of Commissioners adopted Ordinance 2025-1 on Dec. 9, 2025, titled "Regulations, Specifications, and Restrictions for the Use and/or Installation of Data Centers in Tioga County." The minutes note that public comment on the data-center ordinance was taken at the end of the meeting and record multiple speakers voicing support for restrictions and concerns about potential local impacts.

During public comment Rachel Courtney told the board that "parameters need to be in place for data centers in the County." Gavin Hermon warned that "data centers will not improve community as promised; AI consumption will pop soon and county will be left with debt," and said AI is affecting education. Joy Cummings, who said a proposed data center could be placed near her home, raised noise concerns and said "her house would not be protected." Other speakers commended the Planning Commission's research, asked how enforcement would work, and debated economic benefits: one attendee characterized job creation as "minimal," while Commissioner Shane Nickerson said the estimate was "25-30 jobs per building." The minutes also record a county explanation that individual municipalities that adopt their own ordinances can override the county ordinance and that county jurisdiction applies when municipalities do not adopt separate rules.

The minutes do not document any change to the ordinance at the meeting; Marc Rice told the public there would be a 30-day public input period and that changes would be made in February with an anticipated adoption of an amended ordinance in March 2026. The minutes do not list an implementing enforcement plan or timelines; speakers asked specifically about enforcement and decommissioning provisions during public comment.