Shalersville Township discusses massive proposed data center at town hall meeting
Residents of Shalersville Township, Ohio, gathered at a town hall to voice concerns about a proposed 750-megawatt data center by Geis and Bitdeer Technologies. The township currently has a moratorium on data centers, and a state bill (House Bill 646) has been introduced to regulate large-scale data centers, though it has not yet passed. Community members expressed strong opposition, citing worries about noise, water and electrical supply, and environmental impact.
Residents of Shalersville Township, Ohio, and surrounding communities recently packed a town hall meeting to discuss a proposed 750-megawatt data center project by Geis and Singapore-based Bitdeer Technologies. Bitdeer, a company specializing in bitcoin mining and AI cloud storage with existing data centers in Tennessee, Washington, and Massillon, Ohio, is proposing its largest facility yet, located near Kent State University.
The township currently has a moratorium on data centers until November, which cannot be renewed. State Representative Heidi Workman (District 72) informed attendees about House Bill 646, which she introduced to regulate large-scale data centers at the state level, though it has not yet passed. Workman acknowledged the state's efforts to balance economic development with community concerns, noting that some communities welcome data centers while others reject them.
Bitdeer and Geis representatives presented project details, addressing concerns about noise, light, and water pollution. The proposed facility would cover 257 acres, include 15 data halls, and create 150-200 permanent jobs along with 400 construction jobs, with no tax abatements requested. Despite assurances regarding noise mitigation (sound walls targeting 43-48 decibels from equipment that can produce 55-85 decibels) and water usage (a closed-loop cooling system requiring only 3,000 gallons/day for human consumption), residents voiced strong opposition. Concerns included potential impacts on local water and electrical supply, noise and land pollution, decreasing home values, wildlife, and the overall change to their quiet, rural way of life.
Community members, including George Jyurovat and Holly Etling, expressed fears about environmental degradation and loss of community character. Jessica Winchell, leader of the Portage Residents for Responsible Development, criticized the companies' responses, stating they did not seem to have the local community's best interests in mind. A petition to ban mass data center construction in Ohio was available for signing, underscoring the strong local dissent.