Dr. Lisa Kuntz

March 2023

First Selectman Brule,

Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with the MPA members this morning about the proposed data centers on the Dominion property.  It is very much appreciated.  I know you took extensive notes, but I wanted to email you with the points/concerns that are most important to me.  In addition, if there is something I can do to help with the vetting process of this project, please let me know.

I have read the proposal documents for the data center available on line and can see that the town, Dominion and the developer are committed to following the letter of the law.  While I appreciate that, I would like to see the developer and Dominion go beyond what is required to what would be best/ideal and forward thinking for the quality of life of everyone in the area and the environment.  Specifically, as a neighbor of Dominion I would like to see the following concerns addressed.

-Noise from the power plant.  The noise from the existing power plant should be addressed first.  I realize that when the plant was built it met the requirements at that time.  However, the world has only gotten nosier and addressing this would be a good faith gesture that would go a long way in convincing me that everyone involved will do the right things for the neighborhood and the environment in the design and construction of the data centers.  Meeting minimum, legally required standards is not enough. 

-Wildlife concerns.  Where will the wildlife that will be displaced by the data centers go?  What provisions will be made for the wildlife?  What effect will the data centers have on the wildlife that remains?  If there is no impact anticipated, how can this be known?  The data centers are not yet built.

-Aesthetics.  How will these buildings be built to blend in with the environment?  What natural barriers will be preserved or planted?  There are not good natural barriers for the power plant so this is a concern.

-Noise.  From my perspective, for the project to be seriously considered, making sure that there is a noise abatement plan required for BOTH the power plant and data centers is essential.   I fully support my neighbor, who stated he designed the noise monitoring for schools in Waterford, helping with this project.  I agree that the week long monitoring to create a noise abatement plan as required by law is NOT reflective of the experience of living near the power plant.  I would volunteer my home as a monitoring station as well and support on-going monitoring of some type after the data centers are in operation.

-Water.  It is my understanding that the water to cool the equipment in the data centers are part of a self contained system and that when the water needs to be emptied, it will be taken off site. Can this be written into the regulations so that dumping of this water can never be done on the Dominion property?  Where will this water be dumped?  I would like to know and understand where this is being done and the impact on the environment of that area. 

-Land Use.  While I understand that access to the power plant land was restricted after 9/11, I do think this would be a good time to request a reevaluation of this.  As part of this project, if it is approved, I would like MPA members (and Waterford community members) to have access to the property for walking trails.  This was possible many years ago and with the expansion on the property to a business other than the power plant, it seems like a reasonable request.   

-Cranberry Pond.  What if any impact will there be on Cranberry Pond?  If there is no impact anticipated, please explain.  In conjunction with this, there is an access road to the Dominion property and a pipe for drainage under this road from Cranberry Pond.  No one seems to take ownership of the road or the pipe, which is I need of repair.  Is this project a way to get someone to take ownership of the road leading up to Dominion by the main beach at MPA?  Is this a way to force work on the pipe and better preserve Cranberry Pond?

-Traffic.  It is my understanding that traffic for construction and future employees of the data centers will NOT affect the MPA neighborhood.  Can this be written into the construction plan and final approval?  It is my experience that if it is NOT written down, it does not exist.  

-Construction Schedule and Noise.  If the project is approved, what steps will be taken to control noise?  Will the surrounding neighbors have any say in when construction takes place?  The proposal contains lots of language about deadlines, but does not clearly indicate when the work would take place or how the noise associated with that process will be addressed.  

-EMFs.  The study of the impact of EMFs appears to be in its infancy.  Will there be any monitoring of EMFs from the data centers?  Will the construction of the buildings have the ability to limit EMFs released into the environment?

-Transparency.  I appreciate your commitment to transparency.  What is the plan for communicating with community members?  

I fully understand the potential fiscal benefits of this plan for Waterford, Dominion and the developer.  Are any immediate benefits being considered for residents of MPA or other surrounding neighborhoods?  For example, free access to the new fiber optic technology for immediate neighbors of the data centers…

Again, thank you for this morning’s meeting and for reading this email.  Feel free to contact me with questions.  

Dr. Lisa Kuntz