Public information meeting held for data center in Yellow Creek Township

A public information meeting drew approximately 100 people to the Highlandtown Volunteer Fire Department in Yellow Creek Township, Ohio, to discuss the planned Project Astralus. Tony Sharma, owner of Zuharis, and his son Arastu Sharma, chief marketing officer, presented details about the proposed data center and power plant. The facility is slated for 510 acres near 16 School Road and 18 Street Heights, with an estimated operational date in the third quarter of 2027.

Sharma outlined the project's economic benefits, including 6,500 construction jobs, up to 490 construction supervision roles, and 2,300 to 5,500 permanent positions for the power plant and data center campus, which is projected to have a 30-50 year lifespan. He also emphasized significant tax revenues for the county, school district, and township, estimated at $80 million to $150 million annually in property taxes alone. Sharma acknowledged Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's pause on data center tax breaks, stating the company is amenable to long-term tax agreements.

Residents expressed concerns regarding potential increases in electricity costs, noise pollution, water usage, and impact on property values and roads. Sharma addressed these by stating the facility would operate with its own power plant, avoiding strain on the local grid, and would use a closed-loop water system from the Ohio River, meeting EPA standards. He also assured residents that noise would be mitigated by the site's distance from residences and natural buffers.

Despite Sharma's reassurances and union support for the job creation, many attendees remained unconvinced and opposed to the facility, though some felt the project was inevitable. Sharma also touched on a controversy regarding a small, old cemetery on the property, clarifying he has no plans to move it.