Meta pledges $8 million for Piqua emergency equipment amid data center plan | WHIO TV
The Piqua City Commission approved an agreement with AES Ohio to supply power to a new data center in Piqua, confirmed to be owned by Meta. Despite Meta's pledge of $8 million for emergency equipment, many residents, organized by 'Save Piqua', continue to oppose the project, pushing for a charter amendment to limit data center sizes to be placed on the ballot.
The Piqua City Commission recently approved an agreement with AES Ohio to provide power for a new data center. Although the company behind the project was initially kept secret due to a non-disclosure agreement, it has now been revealed as Meta, Facebook's parent company.
Meta has pledged $8 million to the city for new emergency equipment, including fire trucks and police cars. City leaders, including commissioners, expressed support for the project, viewing it as a significant investment and an opportunity for the community's future. They believe it will bring positive change and economic development to Piqua.
However, the proposed data center faces strong community opposition. Residents, many organized under the 'Save Piqua' group led by Alicia Lane, have expressed concerns about potential impacts on clean water, air, and farmland. They view Meta's $8 million pledge as an "insulting" attempt to mitigate their own liability rather than a genuine gift. The group is actively campaigning for a charter amendment that would limit the size of data centers in the community, with the petition now approved to go to the Miami County Board of Elections for a ballot initiative. The overwhelming majority of attendees at a recent city meeting still voiced their disapproval of the data center.