What happens inside an Ohio data center?
NBC4 Columbus toured an Expedient data center in Dublin, Ohio, to address community concerns regarding data center operations. CEO Brian Smith explained the facility's power and water efficiency, noting that noise from servers is contained within the building. The segment aims to demystify data center impact amidst growing community pushback.
NBC4 Columbus recently gained exclusive access to an Expedient data center in Dublin, Ohio, to provide insight into operations that are typically invisible to the public. The tour aimed to address growing community concerns across Ohio regarding the impact of data centers.
Brian Smith, CEO of Expedient, which operates 14 data centers nationwide, guided the tour through the Dublin facility. He described data centers as the "backbone of the Internet," aggregating computing for around 200 companies. The facility, which has a power load of 4.8 megawatts, is considered smaller compared to hyperscale centers that can reach 20 to 100 megawatts per node. Smith emphasized that modern data centers like theirs are designed for efficiency, potentially saving 35% to 50% on electricity compared to individual companies housing their own storage.
Addressing specific community concerns, Smith demonstrated that the significant noise generated by the servers and fans for cooling is not audible from outside the building. He also highlighted Ohio's appeal for data centers due to its climate, which allows for primary air cooling, significantly reducing water consumption. He cited the facility's water bill, which was only about $300, indicating minimal water usage compared to other cooling methods. NBC4 has been actively tracking the rapid growth of data centers across Ohio, including those proposed, under construction, or already active.