Ashville Greenlights Data Center as Commercial Point Prepares Legal Fight

The Ashville Village Council in Pickaway County, Ohio, has given near-unanimous approval to a $102 million data center project by EdgeConneX. This development includes a substantial investment of approximately $32 million for critical water and wastewater infrastructure improvements, which local officials believe will provide long-term economic benefits to schools and municipal services. The project now awaits final approval from the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB), a state body with ultimate authority over large energy-related developments, which has historically approved projects despite local resistance. Concerns raised by locals primarily focused on light pollution, the impact of 70-plus gas turbines, and potential environmental pollution. Conversely, the neighboring village of Commercial Point is actively preparing to challenge a separate proposed data center project within the same county. Council member Ezekiel Miller expressed strong opposition, arguing that the industrial-scale development threatens the village's rural character, farmland, and small-town identity. The Commercial Point Council has filed motions and passed ordinances to block the project and is exploring legal avenues, including potential litigation, to fight the development. This situation underscores a significant divergence in approaches within Pickaway County regarding large-scale industrial projects. While Ashville's approval solidifies the EdgeConneX project's position, Commercial Point's efforts to halt its proposed data center face potential "regulatory taking" lawsuits if the land is already properly zoned, which could incur substantial costs for the village. The differing outcomes exemplify the complexities of Ohio's regulatory landscape for data center development.