Neighbors raise concerns about proposed Cleveland data center

Residents in Cleveland, Ohio, are expressing significant concerns over a proposed $1.6 billion hyper-scale data center on East 55th Street, near the Slavic Village neighborhood. The 300,000-square-foot, two-story facility, proposed by Westlake Based Equity Group, is projected to consume 150 megawatts of power daily and require extensive new water, sewer, and power connections. Neighbors, some of whom have lived in the area since 1985, are questioning the project's impact on their community, specifically citing potential issues with utility capacity, traffic, and the environment. A local councilman has introduced an ordinance to enact a moratorium on all data center permits, urging a pause to ensure the community's interests are prioritized. The Mayor acknowledged residents' concerns, promising transparency and efforts to establish strong policies and safeguards to protect the environment and address utility costs. Furthermore, an amendment that could block large-scale data centers like this one is expected to appear on the November ballot, highlighting the widespread public and governmental scrutiny surrounding the development.