Council enacts 12-month moratorium on data centers
Hubbard and Courtland, Ohio, have enacted 12-month moratoriums on data center development. Hubbard's decision was a direct response to "Project Milo" and public outcry. Council members plan to use this period to research data centers and their potential impacts on the community.
The cities of Hubbard and Courtland in Ohio have both approved 12-month moratoriums on new data center developments. Hubbard City Council's unanimous decision was a direct response to "Project Milo," which had generated significant public outcry from local residents.
Hubbard City Council President Mike Moog stated that the developer behind Project Milo had been evasive for nearly two years, raising red flags. During the 12-month moratorium, council members and Mayor Ben Kyle plan to educate themselves on data centers and their potential community impacts. Councilwoman Robin Zambrini and Councilman Jerome Crowe are scheduled to tour a data center in an industrial area of New Albany, Ohio, to gather information.
Key questions remaining for the council include the potential effects on electrical and power costs, benefits for homeowners, the state-level regulatory landscape, and how a data center would integrate into a smaller community. Mayor Kyle supports the moratorium to prevent detrimental developments, despite having private discussions with a data center company, as no official proposal was ever received.