Liberty Township residents will get to weigh in on future data centers
Liberty Township trustees in Butler County, Ohio, unanimously approved a zoning change requiring all future data center proposals to undergo a public hearing and a final vote by the trustees. This move provides residents with more input on development decisions, addressing concerns about transparency, energy, water use, and noise. The change acts as a more permanent measure compared to temporary moratoriums enacted by other local governments in the county.
Liberty Township trustees in Butler County, Ohio, voted 3-0 to approve a zoning change that will require any future data center project proposals to go through the township's planned unit development process. This process mandates a public hearing and a final vote by the trustees, giving residents a direct say in whether data centers are built in the township.
Molly Bryden, a climate and sustainability researcher with Policy Matters Ohio, noted that this decision is an outlier in a state where many local governments have signed non-disclosure agreements regarding data centers, leading to a lack of transparency and local democracy. The township's Board of Trustees President, Todd Minniear, stated that under previous regulations, developers could build data centers with minimal or no approval, and while he is unaware of any current proposals for Liberty Township, nearby Trenton in Butler County is experiencing ongoing data center construction despite resident pushback.
Minniear expressed appreciation for resident opposition to data centers, citing concerns about energy costs, water use, and noise. He also indicated that the trustees opted for this permanent zoning change over a moratorium, which the Butler County Commission had approved for six other townships in June, because moratoriums have expiration dates and do not offer long-term solutions to complex issues surrounding data centers. The new regulations for Liberty Township are set to take effect on August 21.