Smokestacks to server farms. Data center fights feel so personal | Opinion

A proposed data center development by Panattoni in Perry Township and the City of Canton, Stark County, Ohio, is facing significant local opposition, echoing a nationwide trend where communities resist new data center projects. Residents express concerns over energy consumption, water usage, land impact, and strain on the power grid. The author, Angela Watkins, a Perry Township resident, frames this resistance as deeply personal, contrasting it with the historical acceptance of heavy industries like steel mills that offered significant employment. Adam Kramer, who leads data center development at Panattoni, confirmed that while the tenant remains unnamed, the company is engaging with concerned residents on issues such as well protection and mitigation. He emphasizes that data centers are designed with environmental mitigation from the outset, actively working to reduce their footprint unlike past industries. However, the article suggests that the resistance might stem from a perceived lack of direct community benefit, as data centers employ fewer people than traditional industries. Stark County officials, including trustees from Perry Township, along with Canton and Stark County representatives, are asserting their authority to ensure the proposed data center provides "real, measurable benefits" to the community.