Local residents speak out against data center
Athens County Commissioners and Athens Township Trustees are actively considering policies to deter data center development following strong local opposition. Residents voiced concerns about water, electricity, noise, and jobs, urging the adoption of measures such as a county-wide resolution and a township moratorium on data center construction.
Athens County Commissioners and Athens Township Trustees both indicated support for anti-data center measures at their recent public meetings, which were heavily attended by residents opposing new data center construction. Roxanne Groff, a local activist and former county commissioner, presented the Commissioners with a draft non-binding resolution stating the county's inability to support data center development or its resource demands. Commissioners President Lenny Eliason expressed support for the resolution, which has been sent to Prosecutor Keller Blackburn for review and is expected to be on next week's agenda.
Separately, Athens Township Trustee Steve Pierson announced plans to consult legal counsel regarding amending The Plains' zoning code to prohibit data center development and potentially enacting a moratorium. Pierson noted that the Ohio Attorney General's office has affirmed townships' authority to impose moratoriums with specific guidelines. Residents raised concerns about the lack of utility access, particularly public water, on River Road where a prospective data center could be built, requiring new sewer and water infrastructure and electrical upgrades.
Hazel Goodburn, a lead petitioner for a statewide data center ban, highlighted environmental issues related to cooling water use, citing a past incident in Wyoming. Residents also referenced the Village of Albany's previous ordinance banning data centers and expressed worries about noise, limited permanent job creation, and strain on local water and electricity infrastructure.