What Was Learned in Chillicothe Council’s Data Center Review Session?
Chillicothe City Council held a review session for a proposed data center by Alignment Engine, following a previously enacted 60-day moratorium on development. Despite public concerns and some opposition, the council surprisingly voted to rescind the moratorium shortly after the session. This decision allows the controversial data center project to proceed within city limits.
Chillicothe City Council recently held a well-attended public review session regarding a proposed data center development by Alignment Engine, a company based in Canton, Ohio. The session took place on September 8th, 2026, after the council had passed a 60-day moratorium on data center development within city limits on August 24th.
During the two-hour event at Chillicothe High School, Alignment Engine presented its plans for a "data hall" at the former paper mill site and answered questions from an audience of approximately 350 people. While some attendees expressed support for the project, citing potential jobs and economic investment, others raised environmental concerns about issues like EMF output and effects on pollinators.
Third Ward Councilman Gunner Barnes, the sole vote against rescinding the moratorium, voiced remaining questions about job accountability, the project's true nature (initially downplayed as not a "data center" by the developer, despite the presentation's wording), and the potential for a larger 400MW data center in the future. Despite these concerns, the council unexpectedly voted to rescind the moratorium on September 14th, effectively lifting the legal block on data center development.