Pierce Township weighs rules on data centers after proposal from California-based company
Pierce Township residents are urging officials to adopt strict rules after Crane Data Centers proposed a 300-megawatt data center on about 300 acres along U.S. 52. Concerns include the site’s history as a coal-ash and toxic-ash field, as well as electricity rates, water quality and the project’s broader environmental impact.
Crane Data Centers, a California-based company, has proposed a roughly 300-megawatt data center on a 300-acre site along U.S. 52 in Pierce Township, Clermont County. The proposal drew a large crowd to an elementary school meeting, with residents calling for transparency and strict regulations before the project advances.
The site includes former coal-ash areas that have been associated with environmental concerns for decades. County and township officials said the proposal is not yet a formal zoning application, and officials urged patience while they develop rules for data center construction, potentially ahead of decisions expected by 2027. Residents and officials continue to raise questions about utility rates, water quality and other impacts.