Daily Brief: Proposed data center leads to zoning repeal debate

The Mount Orab Village Council in Ohio recently engaged in hours of debate concerning a proposed massive data center project. The council last night took up the question of whether to roll back a controversial zoning change that had passed in 2024, which facilitated the development of the data center. The proposed data center is a 43-million-dollar development spanning nearly 1200 acres, situated off State Route 32. Residents in the area have consistently pushed back against the project for weeks, expressing significant concerns about a lack of transparency. Neighbors highlighted that village council members had reportedly signed non-disclosure agreements related to the project. During the public debate, community members urged the council to consider the interests of both the companies involved, with whom the council reportedly had difficulty contacting, and the local residents directly impacted by the development.