Cleveland officials take harder stance on hyperscale data centers

Cleveland officials are taking a definitive stand against hyperscale data centers in the city's dense neighborhoods. Mayor Justin Bibb, speaking at the City Club of Cleveland, stated that such facilities "have no future" in urban residential areas, citing material risks and fears raised by residents.

This firm position comes after the city recently rejected a proposal for a 150-megawatt data center in Slavic Village, which would have consumed energy equivalent to over 100,000 homes. Mayor Bibb emphasized that the proposal failed due to lack of prior engagement with residents and administration, and unaddressed concerns regarding environmental impact and rising utility costs.

The Greater Cleveland Partnership, a regional chamber of commerce, has publicly opposed data center bans, arguing that they deter investment and hinder economic opportunity. However, Bibb clarified that the city is not against all data cloud facilities, noting existing operations by corporations like Sherwin Williams and the Cleveland Clinic, and suggested that specific areas could be zoned for such development.

In response to ongoing resident concerns and opposition, Cleveland's planning department announced plans to amend a sweeping East Side housing investment plan to include a prohibition on data center construction in a 1,500-acre district encompassing St. Clair-Superior, Hough, and Central neighborhoods. Furthermore, the Cleveland City Council is actively deliberating a one-year moratorium on new data center permits across the city.