Van Wert County leaders tour New Albany to prepare for data center development at Megasite

Officials and community leaders from Van Wert County, Ohio, embarked on a study trip to New Albany, Ohio, a region with over 40 operational data centers, to prepare for a data center development at the Van Wert Megasite. The Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation (VWAEDC) organized the visit, which was funded by Thor Equities, to provide transparency and address community concerns regarding future development. The delegation included elected officials, business leaders, and residents who had previously expressed environmental concerns. During the tour, New Albany community development leaders and industry representatives shared insights into long-term planning, infrastructure, and sustainable development practices. Discussions focused on mitigating common concerns such as noise, with New Albany officials reporting infrequent noise complaints, primarily related to occasional generator testing. Van Wert Police Chief Doug Weigle noted that the toured data centers were quieter than an average drone. Attendees also learned about environmental considerations, particularly water usage and cooling systems. New Albany representatives explained that additional water capacity was not required for their data center operations and highlighted the effectiveness of closed-loop cooling systems, which Van Wert County also plans to prioritize. A Van Wert City resident, Emily Hoskins, who initially opposed data centers due to environmental concerns, expressed a change of heart after witnessing the sustainable solutions implemented by companies like Google, Meta, QTS, and Amazon in New Albany, praising their minimal water usage and noise-buffering architecture.