Developer files permit for $1.6 billion data center in Cleveland, prompting resident and city council response

A West Side company, Equity Group, has initiated plans for a $1.6 billion data center in the Slavic Village neighborhood on Cleveland's East Side. The proposed 300,000 square-foot, two-story facility, spanning 35 acres, is projected to consume power equivalent to 100,000 homes daily. The developer utilized the land's existing industrial zoning classification, filing for a building permit before the city could implement new regulations, a move that surprised both local residents and Cleveland's mayor. Residents have expressed significant concerns regarding the potential for increased noise, substantial water usage, and the strain on the local power grid, particularly given the project's proximity to their homes. In response to these concerns, a city councilman swiftly introduced an emergency ordinance aimed at freezing all new data center permits, allowing the city time to develop appropriate regulations. Concurrently, Ohio residents are advocating for a statewide ballot measure to prohibit mega data centers exceeding 25 megawatts.