Chobani Plant in Rome Raises Environmental Concerns for Local Residents
By Fiona Mcugh
In April 2025, dairy manufacturer Chobani broke ground on a 1.2 billion dollar facility in Rome, New York. The facility will be its second in New York State. The company announced in a press release that the facility will bring in over 1,000 jobs to the area and will work to transform the community by providing better food to more people. This October, the City of Rome went through a second round of revising building site plans that prompted citizens to raise concerns about the environmental impact of the facility, in spite of its promising economic benefits.
Chobani’s design plans will have 28 different production lines designed to process about 12 million pounds of milk daily. The company has major purchasing power in New York State, buying over a billion pounds of raw milk from New York’s many dairy farms, according to the company’s press release. With the addition of Rome’s facility, the company plans to expand to purchasing up to 6 billion pounds per year, which would support and enrich the state’s dairy industry. Governor Kathy Hochul explained that linking the dairy industry with companies like Chobani helps to revitalize the state’s once-booming manufacturing sector and plans to bring over 1,000 well-paying jobs to families in Oneida County. Hochul explained that projects like partnering with Chobani exemplify her administration’s goals to make New York more worker and business-friendly.
This October, Chobani submitted revised plans that were passed and approved by the City of Rome. The new facility will encompass 160 acres of land on the main plant building, along with 94 additional acres on the former Mohawk Glen Golf Course. The golf course acreage was not originally included in the plans. Local Rome residents have raised questions about what a plant this size could potentially do to the environment. An estimated 300,000 tons of carbon dioxide would be released from the plant annually. Ten tons of garbage would be produced during a standard week of production. The anticipated liquid waste is listed as 3.1 million gallons per day. A 3.32 million-gallon water impoundment is included in the site plan to collect stormwater for treatment and reuse. The water treatment site in Oneida County will not need to expand to accommodate a larger amount of wastewater. Furthermore, enhancements to the sewer system, in addition toincreased electric and natural gas capacity, will be necessary to get the plant fully operational by 2027. Some local residents also raise concerns about the sound levels. 12-foot barrier walls are included in the site plans to block out noise pollution that the plant will produce. Lawmakers originally affirmed in May that there are no significantly negative environmental impacts under the State Environmental Quality Review Act. Changes to the site plans have caused many local residents to raise further concerns and issues.
Chobani’s mission is to make “high quality and nutritious food accessible to more people,” while educating and enriching communities. Chobani’s yogurt, oat milk, and creamers are made without artificial preservatives and utilize all-natural ingredients. The Rome plant, Chobani has said, is expected to be “a catalyst for an entire ecosystem of food innovation across the Mohawk Valley and beyond.” The company plans to announce partnerships with local businesses, schools, organizations, and community groups to “help transform the region.” Chobani has implemented these practices elsewhere, which may provide a basis for their impact in Rome. In South Edmeston, New York, where the company’s original plant began 20 years ago, the plant has had a significant economic impact on Chenango County. Chobani is one of the county’s largest employers and implements employee care strategies, such as setting the company’s minimum wage to $20 an hour, increasing 401 (k) contributions for employees, and aiding employees who need to find childcare. The company also invests in the local community surrounding South Edmeston, providing a $250,000 grant to an exhibit in the Utica Children’s Museum that celebrates the diversity of foods and cultures. In 2023, Chobani also provided grants amounting to $100,000 that supported local efforts to help over 4,000 individuals experiencing food insecurity, which helped increase access to nutritious food. Their Chobani Community Impact Fund constantly invests in local businesses, particularly focusing on eradicating hunger, launching a Let’s Eat Week in October 2023 to help families in need. These actions and more can provide a basis for what the company could provide to Rome and Oneida County.
Chobani has become a crux of South Edmeston, New York. In the past 20 years, the company has evolved to become an integral part of Chenango County. The new plant in Rome could potentially have the same positive impacts – helping local businesses and residents and providing a benefit-rich job for over 1,000 families in the area. The plant would increase and strengthen the New York State dairy industry. However, concerns about carbon dioxide emissions, noise, odors, and waste from the 13-story building have caused worry if the societal pros outweigh the environmental cons.
