A new data center wants to build a natural gas power plant near an Ohio lake town
Residents of Millersport, Ohio, are strongly opposing a natural gas power plant proposed by Advanced Power to power Vantage Data Centers' new facility in Fairfield County. Locals are concerned about the millions of tons of emissions near Buckeye Lake, while state policymakers and unions support the "behind the meter" approach for economic benefits and to avoid grid strain. The Ohio Power Siting Board is expected to rule on the plant's permit by November 26.
Residents of Millersport, Ohio, and surrounding Fairfield County are vocally opposing a proposed 1,350-megawatt natural gas power plant by Boston-based Advanced Power, which is intended to power Vantage Data Centers' $2.1 billion "OH2" facility. Critics, like Lorrie Hoover, expressed deep concerns at a recent public hearing about the plant's estimated discharge of 1,600 tons of air pollutants and 6.6 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, likening Buckeye Lake to an "exhaust pipe" for the tech and natural gas industries.
While state policymakers and the technology sector advocate for these "behind the meter" power plants as a solution to prevent electricity bill spikes associated with data center expansion, locals argue that the environmental burden, including potential health impacts from emissions, is unfairly placed on their community. The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) is reviewing Advanced Power's permit application, with a ruling mandated by November 26 under new state laws designed to accelerate such projects. The hearing highlighted a divide between local opposition focused on immediate environmental and aesthetic concerns, and supporters, largely union members from outside Millersport, who emphasized job creation and tax benefits for schools and public services. Vantage Data Centers is set to receive significant state sales tax exemptions and property tax discounts for the project.