Ohio's data center boom really started in New Albany. We went there to see what it looks like.

New Albany, Ohio, is being dubbed the "Silicon Heartland" due to its rapid growth in data center development. Since 2010, the New Albany International Business Park has seen 40 data centers open, with another 28 either planned or under construction, attracting major tech companies like Google and Meta. Jennifer Chrysler, New Albany's Community Development Director, attributes this success to a meticulously planned business park, significant investment from American Electric Power (AEP) ensuring reliable electricity, and a strategy that allows valuable, low-employee buildings to generate substantial city revenue, despite state and local tax breaks. This revenue has enabled the city to fund public services like expanding police facilities. However, this data center boom is not universally welcomed across Ohio. As other communities consider similar projects, New Albany's team is frequently meeting with officials from other towns, both in-state and out-of-state, who are debating the impact of these developments. There have been protests at public meetings and temporary bans on data center construction in some cities, reflecting concerns and a desire for more information about the long-term effects of such projects.