Clearcreek Twp. puts the brakes on data center developments
Clearcreek Township in Ohio has approved a one-year moratorium on data center permits, citing infrastructure concerns and a need for further study, acting preemptively despite no current development proposals. This mirrors actions by several other Ohio municipalities like Dayton, Washington Township, Fairborn, Cincinnati, Xenia, and Urbana, which have also implemented moratoriums or zoning changes to regulate data center growth. Conversely, cities such as Piqua, Springfield, and Sidney are entering agreements to facilitate data center projects, showcasing a mixed regional approach to development.
Clearcreek Township in northern Warren County, Ohio, unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data center permits on Monday, July 27. The preemptive measure was taken by the township trustees, including chairperson Jason Gabbard, to allow for further study into the potential impact on local infrastructure, despite no data center developers having approached the township. This action positions Clearcreek Township among a growing number of southwest Ohio municipalities implementing measures to regulate or halt data center construction.
Other communities in the region have also taken similar steps. The City of Dayton passed a 180-day moratorium in April and later permanently amended its zoning code to ban large data centers. Washington Township approved a 360-day moratorium in April, while Fairborn and Cincinnati also have moratoriums in place. Xenia has a local moratorium to review zoning rules, and Urbana faces a citizen-led ballot initiative seeking a full prohibition on data centers.
In contrast, some cities in the region are actively facilitating data center development. Piqua city commissioners approved an agreement for construction power for a planned hyperscale data center in July and are working on a long-term electric franchise agreement with AES Ohio. Springfield and Sidney have also secured data center agreements valued over $1 billion. The City of Trenton has introduced a proposed tax abatement and compensation agreement for "Project Mila," a 250-megawatt data center, although some Trenton residents have responded with petitions to ban data centers from the city charter, citing concerns over noise, light pollution, utility costs, and environmental impact.