Dear Friends,
We have updates coming soon about summer peak busting. And this month we are all about resisting data centers across New England from Bow NH to Connecticut to Williston VT (which is an ICE data center). In the midst of the overwhelming challenges two things heartened me in this call. The first was the people who came were from all over the country and brought such a range of gifts: data geeks and parents, artists and long term organizers, banner builders and new activists. The second was the number of local, tangible actions we can take with our friends and neighbors. Here are the opportunities to take action:
Bow NH
No Coal No Gas began to demand that the last coal plant on the New England grid transition off of coal and to renewables. The plant ownership has stated publicly that they plan to turn it into a renewable energy park (we’re not sure what they mean by this). And now it has been revealed that there have been conversations since April about building an AI data center in Bow. We say no. It’s terrible for the water, electricity rates, and carbon output. And it will not bring any real jobs to Bow. If you haven’t signed our petition yet, please do and share it with your friends, neighbors, and social media.
The Bow Select Board is talking about this at their Sept 22nd meeting 6pm at the Bow Municipal Building at 10 Grandview Rd. Bow NH. As far we can tell, anyone attending the meeting can comment. Come if you can, and speak if you want to. Sign up here so we can keep you updated, and come to one or more of the following:
Sept. 15th, 7pm-9pm: Make a sign! Join us at the 350NH office in Dover to make a sign – we’ve got supplies or bring your own and create in company. Sign up here so we know you’re coming. Bring a friend. Want to host a sign making party near you? Let us know and we can share it out (email kendra@350NH.org)
Sept. 21st, 7pm-8pm: Tips and talking points for a public comment. Join us online to work on your comment to the Select Board. We talk about what makes an effective comment and take time to write and get feedback. Sign up here to get the zoom link.
Rally September 22nd - We will rally outside the meeting from 5-6pm. Same thing, number of attendees is powerful. Sign up here so we can communicate about parking and other updates.
ICE Data Center in Williston VT
There are two ICE data centers in a quiet town outside of Burlington VT. At these centers they collect tips, surveil social media, and build target lists. Folks have been protesting, hanging banners, and increasing public awareness about these facilities. Now we’re going to step it up a notch. There will be a series of actions Oct 4-9. You can get more information or sign up on the website or here. This is the kind of action that has a role for everyone – want to engage directly? Great. Want to cook for people who are taking courageous action, wonderful. Love to make art, come on up!
Data Center and old fossil Fuel power plants in Connecticut
This one is a little more tangled. A pair of data center companies (who are buiding AI data centers) is buying the private equity firm that owns several old fossil fuel peaker (only run on the hottest or coldest days) plants in Connecticut. We are organizing with local communities and regional networks to prevent these data centers from being built and then getting the fossil fuel generators (that only run occasionally and are very dirty and inefficient) replaced with storage or renewable generation. The New Haven City Council is considering a 1 year moratorium on data centers. Let them know you want a moratorium on data centers and want these peakers transitioned. The Mayor, Justin Elicker, can be emailed here and the President of their Board of Alders, Tyisha Walker-Myers can be emailed here.
Interested in being part of both local and regional organizing about this possible data center/ dinosaur power plant mash up? Fill out this form.
Our next All Call will be Oct 14th 7pm: Register here
That's alot! You don't have to do it all, that's why we are working together, find the action that puts a spark in your eye. Trying to find your spot, get in touch! We appreciate being in this work with you.
Links to information
Newspaper article about Bow Data Center
