City of Chillicothe Taking Action on Data Center Concerns
Chillicothe City Council is actively addressing concerns about a proposed data center planned for a former paper mill site, following a surprising announcement by U.S. Paper Mill and Aligned. Public resistance focuses on potential excessive water and electrical consumption, prompting the council to gather information and consider formulating new legislation regarding data centers.
The Chillicothe City Council, along with Mayor Luke Feeney, has initiated actions to address significant public concerns surrounding a proposed data center. This project, planned for the 462-acre former Pixelle Specialty Solutions paper mill site, was announced by U.S. Paper Mill, the nine-month owner of the complex.
The announcement, made through a news release from the Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce, detailed plans for the site's transformation into a "21st-century regional hub" for various industries, including "next-generation computing technologies." It further specified that Aligned plans to develop a high-performance computing campus, representing an anticipated $1.5 billion investment focused on artificial intelligence infrastructure. This revelation reportedly surprised local officials, who indicated no advance public review processes or regulatory announcements were made.
Public resistance to data centers, often citing excessive water and electrical consumption, water pollution, and noise, has been a "hot topic." A statewide petition effort in Ohio to amend the state constitution to limit data center size is also ongoing. In Chillicothe, council members, including Engineering Committee Chair Kathy Dunn, have been tasked with gathering information to formulate possible legislation regarding data centers, covering issues such as zoning, water usage, discharge, and noise pollution. Mayor Feeney's office is also compiling a list of questions, signaling an active governmental response to the proposed development.