Ashtabula Committee Weighs Data Center Moratorium After Policy Matters Ohio Presentation
News Clip2:00Jabbering With Julie and Northeast Ohio News·Ashtabula, Ashtabula County, OH·8/18/2026
Molly Bryden of Policy Matters Ohio presented to Ashtabula's Community Development Committee, highlighting fiscal, environmental, infrastructure, and transparency risks associated with large data centers. The committee is weighing a data center moratorium, agreeing that any such policy needs stronger language and specific harm standards before moving to the full city council. The Assistant City Solicitor will also research the city's ability to restrict officials from signing development-related nondisclosure agreements.
moratoriumenvironmentalgovernmentopposition
Gov: Ashtabula Community Development Committee, Ashtabula City Council, Assistant City Solicitor Catherine Colgan
Molly Bryden of Policy Matters Ohio walked Ashtabula's Community Development Committee through the fiscal, environmental, infrastructure and transparency risks tied to large data centers, from tax subsidies and water use to PFAS concerns and nondisclosure agreements. The committee agreed any moratorium needs stronger policy language and specific harm standards before it goes to full council, and Assistant City Solicitor Catherine Colgan will research whether the city can restrict officials from signing development related nondisclosure agreements.