Green Township trustees approve moratorium on new development amid data centers push
Green Township trustees in Harrison County, Ohio, have approved a 12-month moratorium on new development to prevent more AI data center projects. A newly established zoning commission is tasked with drafting regulations or completely preventing future data center construction. The commission aims to address concerns like noise and water usage, but missed a deadline for a November ballot submission.
Green Township leaders in Harrison County, Ohio, have enacted a moratorium on all new development for at least 12 months in an effort to halt additional AI data center projects within the township. The move comes as residents and officials express strong opposition to the proliferation of such facilities.
Following the decision, a new zoning commission has been established, with four members already appointed and a fifth being sought. According to zoning commission member Dana Ritchie, the committee's primary goal is to either completely prevent data centers from being built or to implement stringent restrictions on their operation, particularly concerning noise limitations and water/cooling requirements. The commission, however, missed the August 11 deadline to submit zoning resolutions for the upcoming November ballot, which could necessitate an extension of the current moratorium while they prepare for the next election cycle.