Sunbury City Council passes moratorium on data centers until January, pausing Amazon project

The Sunbury City Council in Ohio unanimously voted to enact a moratorium on data centers, effective until January 2027. This decision directly impacts Amazon's proposed $2 billion data center project, which was slated for the city's new business park off Vans Valley Road, putting the development on pause. The council moved its meeting to Big Walnut High School to accommodate an anticipated crowd, with approximately 200 residents attending to voice their opposition. Residents like Carrie Meeks expressed that data centers are not wanted in their residential, country setting, while Alicia Doty, whose street would be home to the Amazon facility, found the prospect upsetting and personal, actively gathering signatures for a statewide petition to ban mega data centers. Sunbury Mayor Joe St. John explained that the eight-month moratorium will allow the city to gather more information regarding the potential environmental and economic impacts of data centers. He mentioned awaiting the outcomes of Ohio House Bill 646, which has passed the House and would establish a Data Center Study Commission, noting that the January 2027 deadline for the moratorium could be extended if necessary.