Waterford resident calls for a trustee to step down in light of a data center development
A Waterford, Ohio resident is circulating a petition to remove a township trustee, Doug McCutcheon, who allegedly stands to profit from a proposed 200-megawatt data center by selling his land to the developers. Residents are concerned about a lack of information due to non-disclosure agreements and the perceived conflict of interest. The controversy has already led to the ousting of a Washington County Commissioner who supported the project.
In Washington County, Ohio, a proposed 200-megawatt data center for cryptocurrency mining and high-performance computing has sparked significant local political turmoil and community opposition. Waterford Township resident Karl Bogard is leading an effort to remove township trustee Doug McCutcheon, alleging a conflict of interest because McCutcheon reportedly received an offer on his land from the data center developers, potentially making him a multimillionaire. Bogard claims McCutcheon's personal interest influenced decisions not to pursue zoning or a data center moratorium, despite the trustee's assertion that he recused himself from related votes.
Residents are organizing through a Facebook group to gather information and debate the development's economic, public health, and environmental impacts, including concerns about electricity and water usage. The lack of transparency due to non-disclosure agreements signed by county commissioners has fueled public skepticism. Critics of the opposition, like resident Jay Owens, believe the backlash stems from jealousy or a misunderstanding of trustees' limited power without zoning.
The controversy has already affected local elections, with Washington County Commissioner Eddie Place losing his primary due to backlash over his support for the data center and his decision not to sign an injection well moratorium. His opponent, Stephanie Lang, ran on a platform critical of data center development. The Ohio Statehouse is also considering a bill to prohibit public officials from signing NDAs in such development negotiations, which remains in committee. While county commissioners approve tax abatements, township trustees are mandated to have a say in negotiations, highlighting the complex local governance surrounding such projects.