Passions on Data Center Raised Again in Chillicothe Council
A proposed data center at the former Chilpaco paper mill generated renewed debate during Chillicothe City Council and committee meetings. Residents, including Appalachians Against Data Centers founder Portia Boulger, raised objections, while the city sought legal advice and continued gathering information about the project.
The proposed data center at the former Chilpaco paper mill was the focus of renewed discussion during Chillicothe City Council meetings on Sept. 28, 2026. The council’s engineering committee is collecting information about data centers and received a briefing from an attorney with Bricker Graydon Wyatt, a law firm hired by the city for legal advice.
Public opposition was prominent during the meetings. Portia Boulger, founder of Appalachians Against Data Centers, criticized council procedures and spoke against the project, while other residents addressed the council on both sides of the issue. Questions also included the city’s electrical capacity and how Chillicothe should handle data center development.