Residents fight back against data centers in Licking, Delaware counties
Residents in Pataskala and Sunbury, Ohio, are actively opposing data center developments and have submitted petitions to place a data center ban on the November ballots. Pataskala City Council is also expected to vote on a specific data center proposal next month, following a recommendation for rejection from the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Residents in Pataskala and Sunbury, Ohio, are actively campaigning against the proliferation of data centers, specifically pushing for a ban on new facilities that consume 25 megawatts or more of power monthly. Leatrice Guttentag, a Pataskala resident living near a proposed data center site at Mink and Broad streets, voiced concerns about potential impacts on health, environment, and property values, emphasizing the need for politicians to heed community input.
Both Pataskala and Sunbury residents submitted petitions this week to include these data center bans as charter amendments on the upcoming November ballots. The certification process for these petitions is anticipated to take approximately 20 days.
Concurrently, Pataskala City Council is slated to review a specific data center proposal next month. This consideration follows a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission to reject the project, signaling a potential defeat for the development if the council aligns with the commission's stance. Dan Diorio from the Data Center Coalition, however, argued against such bans, highlighting the industry's role in Ohio's economic development and affordability.