Niles Council schedules hearing on data center pause

City leaders in Niles, Ohio, have scheduled a public hearing for May 20 at 5 p.m. at City Hall to discuss a proposed temporary moratorium on new data center projects. The Niles City Council plans to explain the mechanism of such a pause, which is intended to provide time for officials to update existing zoning laws and codes. These updates would aim to better regulate the operation and location of data centers, addressing local residents' concerns. The initiative follows several weeks of public debate and a statewide petition by the political action committee Conserve Ohio, which seeks to allow voters to decide on banning data centers consuming over 25 megawatts of electricity monthly. Niles residents have specifically voiced concerns regarding the potential impact of these facilities on the local power grid and water supply. While some groups advocate for a ban, others, like the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber, suggest local governments should retain decision-making power due to potential tax revenue benefits. The city had previously indicated it would not pursue a request for a project known as Bitdeer, as the Mayor found no council interest in that specific plan. Should the proposed moratorium be approved, the city intends to proceed with detailed discussions on establishing permanent zoning regulations for future data center developments.