McDonald residents attending meeting to discuss potential data center
Residents in McDonald, Ohio are attending a city council meeting to discuss concerns about a potential data center at the former McDonald Steel site. They are advocating for a moratorium or equivalent regulations and specific ordinances to address diesel emissions, noise, and brownfield cleanup. A developer, Oppidan, is reportedly interested in the property, but no transaction has occurred.
Residents of McDonald, Ohio, are actively engaging with village leaders regarding a potential data center development at the former McDonald Steel site. Data center discussions have been ongoing for 18 months, with residents expressing concerns about diesel emissions, tonal noise, and the cleanup of the site, which Elizabeth Johnson described as one of the country's worst brownfields left by US Steel. Residents are advocating for a moratorium or equivalent protective measures and for the creation of ordinances to address these issues.
Village Mayor Ray Lewis stated he was unaware of a large group attending the council meeting but confirmed it would proceed. He mentioned that Oppidan, a Minnesota commercial property developer, is exploring a potential purchase of the property, though no exchange has occurred. Mayor Lewis has reached out to Oppidan to facilitate discussions with residents, while the village focuses on crafting zoning changes to safeguard community interests.