Pataskala rejects proposed data center; voters to decide potential ban in November
The Pataskala City Council voted to reject a proposed 200-megawatt data center facility by Aligned Data Centers, following a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission and months of community opposition. Residents had also gathered signatures to put a data center ban on the November ballot, which voters will now decide.
After several months of intense community debate, the Pataskala City Council voted to reject a proposed 200-megawatt, three-building data center project by Aligned Data Centers. The decision came after a lengthy Tuesday night meeting where dozens of community members attended, eagerly awaiting the council's vote.
The council's decision aligned with a recommendation from the Pataskala Planning and Zoning Commission to block the development. Residents had voiced strong concerns about the large-scale project's potential impact on their neighborhoods and quality of life.
In addition to the project's rejection, the issue of data center development in Pataskala will go before voters in November. The City Council had previously moved to place a data center ban on the ballot after residents successfully rallied and gathered over 500 signatures to push for a public vote. Aligned Data Centers had stated that the facility would create over 100 permanent jobs and attract more than $5 billion in investment to the area.