How one man in rural Ohio is fighting a $5B Amazon data center
A St. Clair Township zoning commissioner is leading efforts to ban data centers as the township considers the proposed $5 billion Amazon data center campus near Trenton. The zoning amendment was unanimously approved by the township zoning commission and will be reviewed by the Butler County Planning Commission before township trustees make a final decision.
John Glenn, a St. Clair Township resident and zoning commissioner, is leading opposition to Amazon’s planned $5 billion data center campus in Butler County, citing potential noise, traffic, environmental impacts and changes to the rural community. Amazon has proposed an 18-building campus on roughly 600 acres in St. Clair and Madison townships, south of Trenton.
The St. Clair Township Zoning Commission voted unanimously to advance an amendment that would prohibit data centers as a permitted, conditional or planned use in all township zoning districts. The Butler County Planning Commission is scheduled to review the amendment, after which the township’s three trustees will decide whether to adopt it. The effort follows Trenton voters’ approval of a citywide data center ban, which could leave the project dependent on township land.
Amazon has not confirmed whether it will proceed if the restrictions are adopted, but said it remains committed to responsible data center development and engagement with Ohio communities. Trenton Mayor Ryan Perry said local officials had previously negotiated with Amazon and neighboring townships without hearing objections to the project, while trustee Wanda Jones said she supports residents seeking a ban.