Data centers killing Ohio's beloved park before our very eyes | Opinion

The Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission has rapidly approved fracking permits for thousands of acres in Egypt Valley Wildlife Area and Salt Fork State Park, despite significant public opposition. This expedited process is linked to the increasing demand for power from data centers across Ohio, with 201 centers already in operation and 77 more proposed or under development. Under House Bill 15, data centers can receive state approval for major gas plants to power their operations in just 45 days, circumventing public notice or hearings. This occurred with an Amazon data center in Hilliard, where the largest fracked gas fuel cell in North America was approved without public input. This facility is projected to emit 1.45 million pounds of carbon dioxide daily, equivalent to 66,000 additional gas-powered vehicles, impacting nearby homes, an elementary school, and an animal shelter. Similar large-scale gas plants are proposed for data centers in the village of Ashville and Pike County, raising concerns about local pollution and health. State legislative leaders, including House Speaker Matt Huffman and Senate President Rob McColley, have openly stated their intent to leverage Ohio's public lands for fracking to supply gas to these data centers. This practice, according to Save Ohio Parks, will lead to the production of billions of gallons of toxic waste and threaten drinking water supplies. Cathy Cowan Becker, board president of Save Ohio Parks, warns local government officials that approving data centers will likely lead to the imposition of state-approved gas plants in their communities. She advocates for a moratorium on new data center construction and fracking of public lands to prevent Ohio's natural resources from becoming "fracking sacrifice zones" for the benefit of Big Tech and Big Oil.