Small data center company eyes land near Beckjord power plant in Pierce Township

Crane Data Centers, a San Francisco-based company, has proposed a 300-megawatt data center project consisting of three buildings on 300 acres of land adjacent to the now-closed Beckjord power plant in Pierce Township, Clermont County, Ohio. Lance Mobley, the company’s site acquisition director, presented the proposal to the Pierce Township Zoning Commission.

Approximately 20 residents attended the meeting, raising concerns about the project's potential environmental and community impacts. Residents like Carene Kunkler voiced worries about the loss of green landscape and industrial views, while Elizabeth Mozer hoped for low lighting to preserve dark skies. Doug and Angie Dresie expressed fears about noise, which Mobley addressed by explaining the company encloses generators and uses a closed-loop water system that only requires a one-time draw. He also mentioned the possibility of the data center building a new substation to increase grid stability at no cost to local taxpayers, and reducing operations during peak demand.

While some residents, like Angie Dresie, felt their fears were eased by Mobley’s presentation, others remained cautious. Zoning Commission President Jeff Stitt was amenable to the idea, but Commissioner Dick Schuler questioned the choice of a "topographically beautiful bedroom community" for a data center, suggesting the old power plant site would be more suitable than "virgin land." Commissioner Beverly Benzing worried about potential utility rate increases for citizens. The Pierce Township Zoning Commission plans to discuss the proposal further at its next meeting on October 6.