Big Tech's ugly data centers finally meet the opposition | Froma Harrop

Protests are emerging against large data center developments in rural communities across the United States. In Wilmington, Ohio, residents are actively opposing a proposed 2 million-square-foot, nine-building data center project by Amazon Web Services on a 500-acre former farm. Local opposition stems from concerns about preserving their rural landscape and quality of life, despite proponents, including state economic development agency JobsOhio, highlighting the potential for up to 100 full-time jobs and $35 million in public infrastructure improvements. Critics question the true benefit of these incentives, noting that the infrastructure might not be needed without the development and that 100 jobs is a modest number for such a large project. This situation in Ohio is cited as an example of a national trend where tech companies target rural areas for cheap land and what they perceive as less stringent local oversight and attractive state tax incentives. The article contrasts this with the values of many rural Americans who prioritize their peaceful surroundings over industrial development.