Assemblyman Scott Gray: we agree on who decides — ask him to let the pause stand anyway
Our own representative in Albany, Assemblyman Scott Gray (R–116th District, which includes Massena), is publicly urging Governor Hochul to VETO the statewide data-center pause — the very pause that would give our town time to get this right. His reason, in his words, is one we share: a blanket statewide moratorium “takes the decision away from the very communities that have to live with the outcome, in both directions.” He's right that whether a data center belongs in Massena is Massena's call, not Albany's. (North Country Now, June 12, 2026)
Where we part ways is the timing. The pause doesn't decide anything for us — it buys the months we need to get a real environmental review on the record before a vote, which is the whole ask. Killing it doesn't return the decision to Massena; it just means our town makes that decision with less information. Gray has also warned a moratorium “sends the wrong signals to developers, economic developers, that New York can't handle it or is not prepared or is not welcoming it” (NCPR, June 30, 2026) — we'd rather send the signal that Massena does its homework first.
He works for us. Tell him you agree this is a local decision — and that letting the pause stand is what protects it.
Call his office ~90 seconds
- Canton (St. Lawrence County) office: (315) 386-2037
- Watertown office: (315) 786-0284
- Albany office: (518) 455-5545
Read this, or say it your own way:
Hi, I'm a constituent in Massena. I'm calling about the proposed 635-megawatt data-center expansion on the old Reynolds site — I do NOT want it pushed through on our river. I agree with the Assemblyman that this is a local decision. That's exactly why I'm asking him to stop urging a veto of the statewide pause — it doesn't decide anything for Massena, it just gives our town the months we need to get a real environmental review on the record before any vote. Please ask him to protect our town, our water, and our electric rates, and to represent us. Thank you.
Email him — one click, pre-written ~60 seconds
Opens in your mail app with the message filled in — add your name and hit send. Prefer paper? Write him at 3 Remington Ave, Canton, NY 13617.
Prefer to copy & paste? See the full draft →
No email app set up? Read the subject and letter below, then copy them and paste into any webmail or document. This is the exact same draft the button above opens.
Subject: Please oppose the Massena data center and let the moratorium stand Assemblyman Gray, I am a constituent in Massena. I do NOT want the 635-megawatt data-center expansion pushed through on our river, and I am asking you to STOP urging a veto of the statewide data-center pause. I agree with you that whether a data center belongs in Massena is Massena's decision, not Albany's. That is exactly why I am asking this: the pause does not decide anything for us. It gives our town the months we need to get a real environmental review on the record before any vote. Killing it does not return the decision to Massena — it only means we make that decision with less information. There are too many environmental concerns for us and for our neighbors down the river. Please protect our town, our water, and our electric rates. Represent us. [Your name] [Your street address — mention if you live near the site] Massena, NY
Governor Hochul: sign the stronger bill too
She already acted once — by executive order, not by signing the bill. On July 14, 2026, Hochul signed Executive Order 62, pausing new state permits for data centers of 50 MW or more while the state studies the issue. It does not touch town-level review: the order says plainly, “This provision does not apply to permits, approvals, licenses, or similar forms of permission from local governments.” Massena's Planning Board and Town Board keep the same authority they had before.
The bill she still hasn't signed is the stronger tool. The Responsible Data Center Development Act (S10642 / A11560) — a lower 20 MW threshold, and a public-hearing requirement her executive order doesn't have — passed both houses of the New York Legislature on June 4, 2026 and remains unsigned. The official tracker does not yet show delivery to the Governor, a signature, or a veto. One signature would buy every town in New York, including ours, a stronger, legally binding review — not just a state-permit pause.
Sign the petition ~60 seconds
Sign: “Governor Hochul — sign the data-center moratorium bill” →
Food & Water Watch's petition — the quickest way to add your name.
Send her office a message ~2 minutes
Use the Governor's official contact form and paste this:
Please sign S10642 / A11560, the Responsible Data Center Development Act. I am a New York resident in Massena, where a roughly 635-megawatt data-center expansion is being reviewed on contaminated former-smelter land along the St. Lawrence River. Your executive order doesn't reach town-level reviews like ours — the bill does, with a lower 20-megawatt threshold and a public-hearing requirement your order doesn't have. Please sign it. Thank you.
Or call ~90 seconds
- Governor's office: (518) 474-8390 (weekdays 9–5)
Hi, I'm a New York resident calling to ask Governor Hochul to sign S10642 / A11560, the Responsible Data Center Development Act — the data-center moratorium bill. I live in Massena, where a huge data-center expansion is under review right now. Her executive order doesn't reach our town's review — the bill would, with a real public-hearing requirement. Please sign it. Thank you.
Done with Albany? Get your comment on the town's record too →