Residents along pipeline route for data center worry about safety, property values, and lack of transparency
Residents of Plain and Liberty townships in Wood County, Ohio, are expressing significant concerns to the Williams Company and Plain Township Trustees about a proposed high-pressure natural gas pipeline. The pipeline, intended to power a Meta data center in Middleton Township, has sparked worries about safety, property values, and a lack of transparency regarding its route. Township officials are also hesitant to approve road permits due to project errors and potential liabilities, indicating ongoing local resistance.
Residents from Liberty and Plain townships in Wood County, Ohio, attended a special Plain Township meeting to voice strong concerns about the proposed Will-Power pipeline, which will supply natural gas to a power plant exclusively serving a Meta data center in Middleton Township. Residents expressed frustration over late notification of the pipeline route, a non-functional company hotline, and the lack of communication from Williams Company, which is responsible for the pipeline.
Key concerns include the potential impact on property values, the risks associated with living near a high-pressure natural gas pipeline, and the company's refusal to disclose compensation details for farmers whose land is being used. Despite apologies from Williams Company representatives Joe Snodgrass, Mike Hopkins, and Tara Meek for communication issues, residents like Justin Instone and Jen Longenberger felt their concerns were being dismissed due to the project's tight timeline.
Plain Township Trustees Jim Rossow and Barney Bechstein also shared reservations, criticizing the rushed nature of the project and questioning specific permit details, such as a road bore permit requiring only three feet of cover instead of six. The trustees are hesitant to approve "haul maps" for construction, noting that the city of Bowling Green had not even been contacted regarding the use of its roads. The article highlights an ongoing conflict between Williams Company's tight construction schedule and the safety and transparency demands from local residents and township officials.