Watchdog Report: City's data center company conversations revealed (Part 1)
Concerned citizens in Hubbard, Ohio, uncovered secret conversations between the city and Crane Data Center regarding a proposed 300 MW data center project. Despite a non-disclosure agreement and rezoning discussions, the city enacted a 12-month data center moratorium in June, effectively ending Project Milo. Residents raised concerns about transparency, water, and electricity use.
A Watchdog Report has revealed details of confidential discussions between Hubbard, Ohio, city officials and Crane Data Center concerning a proposed 300-megawatt data center, codenamed "Project Milo." The report follows a formal request by concerned citizens for documents related to communications between Mayor Ben Kyle, city council members, and data center companies for 2025 and 2026. Mayor Kyle had signed a five-year non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in December 2024 with Crane Data Centers and Lake to River, a regional partner to Jobs Ohio, sparking accusations of a lack of transparency from residents.
Documents indicate that talks began in December 2024, with Crane Data Center, based in San Francisco, identified as the company behind Project Milo. Discussions progressed to a utility study funded by Crane, evaluation of the Deer Creek Golf Course as a potential site, and assessments of the property's sewer system, which revealed a need for a pump station and force main. Furthermore, legislation was unanimously passed in December 2025 to sell a city-owned transmission line to American Municipal Power to increase city reliability, a move that allegedly involved pressure from Crane.
The project faced further scrutiny as city engineering assistants explained the complex rezoning process to Crane, and preliminary site drawings showing 30-60 ft high buildings were exchanged, though specific details like water and electric use were redacted, frustrating residents like Costello. Mayor Kyle stated that no official proposal was ever submitted, and the project never formally began.
Ultimately, the City of Hubbard enacted a 12-month moratorium on data centers in June 2026. Acting Mayor Mog, who temporarily took over after Mayor Kyle's car accident, expressed strong opposition to the project, stating, "There is no project. The project is dead. It never In my mind, it never will happen. I'm against the data center concept coming into our community."