Niles residents sign data center petition

Niles, Ohio, residents are voicing strong concerns over a proposed data center project between Niles and Weathersfield Township, leading to a significant community response. Hundreds of residents from Trumbull and Mahoning Counties have signed a petition to introduce a statewide amendment on the November ballot that would partially ban data centers in Ohio. This proposed amendment would prohibit the construction of any data center requiring 25 megawatts or more of power per month. Community members express zero perceived benefit from these facilities, citing potential negative impacts on air quality, water quality, and noise levels. They note that other states with data centers have experienced similar complaints. To qualify for the ballot, the petition needs over 600,000 signatures statewide, including approximately 7,300 from Trumbull County and 8,500 from Mahoning County. The opposition intensified after residents attended a Niles City Council meeting to condemn the project on Belmont Avenue, which is being proposed by the Singapore-based company Bit Deer. Bit Deer requested the city partially annex part of Weathersfield for the project. In response to residents' concerns about environmental effects and the strain on the city's power and water resources, some city council members proposed a six-month moratorium on any votes related to the data center. This pause aims to allow more time for investigation and to support the petition efforts. However, one council member, Michael Nan, expressed skepticism, suggesting that six months of research isn't needed to confirm residents' opposition. The Niles City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed data center at its next meeting on May 20th.