NY company exploring Athens County data center
A New York firm, Saadia Holding LLC, is exploring the development of a 250,000 square foot data center on 300 acres in Athens County, Ohio. The company has held preliminary discussions with local officials regarding land-use regulations, zoning, and utility requirements, but no formal application has been submitted. This follows a previous attempt by Saadia to build a data center in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, which was rejected.
Saadia Holding LLC, a New York-based firm, is exploring the construction of a 250,000 square foot data center on approximately 300 acres along the Athens-Dover township line in Athens County, Ohio, across from Athens High School. Athens County Planner Connor LaVelle confirmed that Saadia first contacted his office on July 14 to inquire about zoning variances, required documentation, and utility information for the site.
Local sources and Athens City Planner Meghan Jennings confirmed a subsequent teleconference involving Saadia representatives and officials from Athens Township, Athens County, and the City of Athens. During this meeting, Saadia indicated the facility would employ about 100 people. Jennings clarified that these "prospective development meetings" are standard procedures to inform companies about regulations, emphasizing that Saadia has not yet submitted any formal applications.
The proposed data center plans for a closed-loop cooling system, requiring an initial 100,000 gallons of water and a monthly refill of 10,000 to 20,000 gallons. Oscar Carson, superintendent of the Athens County Water and Sewer District, stated that the water usage would not be "huge." However, the article notes that while closed-loop systems reduce direct water consumption, they may increase indirect water use for electricity generation and could require more energy. This Ohio inquiry follows a previous attempt by Saadia to acquire land for a data center in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, which was rejected by the Columbia Borough Council in May.