City of Chillicothe Taking Action on Data Center Concerns
The Chillicothe City Council and Mayor are actively addressing concerns about a proposed data center project at a former paper mill site. Officials and citizens were surprised by the announcement, prompting inquiries into the project's impacts and the formulation of potential local legislation. The project is planned to be a high-performance computing campus with an anticipated $1.5 billion investment.
The City of Chillicothe, Ohio, is actively addressing community and official concerns regarding a proposed data center development at the former Pixelle Specialty Solutions paper mill site. Local officials and citizens expressed surprise at the announcement from US Paper Mill Company, LLC, which owns the 462-acre complex, as no prior public review processes or regulatory notices were given.
The project, involving a collaboration with Aligned and AMD, is envisioned as a "high-performance computing campus" and a "strategic hub for artificial intelligence infrastructure," representing an anticipated $1.5 billion investment. Despite the news release avoiding the term "data center," its nature has been widely recognized, leading to public resistance mirroring statewide concerns about excessive water and electrical consumption, water pollution, and noise.
Mayor Luke Feeney stated the administration is seeking information on zoning, water usage, discharge, and noise pollution. Chillicothe Council President Kevin Shoemaker assigned Engineering Committee Chair Kathy Dunn to gather information and formulate potential legislation concerning data centers. Dunn, who has studied similar resistance efforts in other Ohio counties, is leading ongoing committee meetings to prepare for legislative action.