Email stirs uncertainty about Wilmington data center
Wilmington, Ohio residents are seeking clarity on a potential Amazon data center deal after an email from the mayor suggested money had already changed hands, a claim the city denies. A lawsuit filed by residents led to a judge barring the city from advancing data center plans, and residents are now working to get a measure on the ballot to regulate data centers in the city.
Residents of Wilmington, Ohio, are seeking answers regarding a proposed data center after an email from Mayor Patrick Haley to a city official mentioned needing $28 million from Amazon, stating, "They already gave us 10 million." The City of Wilmington has denied receiving any financial benefit from Amazon Data Services, Inc., clarifying that negotiations are still active.
The email surfaced during discovery for a lawsuit filed by residents Jessica and Logan Sharp against the city. Sharp expressed concern over the "quid pro quo" nature suggested by the email within the context of an unsigned deal. A visiting judge has since issued an order preventing the City of Wilmington from deliberating on any site plan for a data center.
Sharp and other community members are also working to place a measure on the ballot that would establish guidelines and regulations for data centers within the city to ensure compatibility with residential life. The city did not comment on a letter mentioned in the email that requested Amazon's help to fund a new public safety building.