Data centers

Developers say a data center is a good use of an abandoned industrial site, but Canton residents are concerned over noise and property values.

In the southwest Ohio city of Trenton, officials are ushering in large-scale data centers that promise jobs and economic development. But, some residents aren’t sold, saying a lack of transparency is leaving them in the dark.

The first building phase of 5C Group's Springfield data center is expected to be complete by the end of September. While economic leaders wait in anticipation, some residents aren't so enthused.

The July 14 order will require the city to redo key steps of the $4 billion project’s permitting process before it can make a decision on the site plan. A public hearing on the affected zoning rules is scheduled for Aug. 20.

One petition seeks to put a data center ban on the November ballot for Urbana. The other seeks to recall Urbana Mayor Bill Bean.

New York-based real estate firm Thor Equities filed the federal lawsuit June 19, alleging Urbana officials violated state and local laws when it changed regulations preventing data center developments.

Dayton's planning department recommended zoning changes to ban data centers as well restrict gas stations and car washes. The city commission will vote June 24 on the proposal.

The Ohio Chamber is advocating for continued tax breaks for data centers, saying it has new research showing central Ohio and the Miami Valley have enough water to sustain data center growth through 2030.

The Urbana City Council has started the process to roll back zoning changes that had made it easier for data centers to be built there.

The largest shareholders will be BlackRock-owned Global Infrastructure Partners and Swedish firm EQT. AES expects the transaction to be final later this year at the earliest.

The proposed resolution would add a layer of review for data center projects coming into Wilmington.

The decision puts a 12-month pause on any new data centers from being considered for construction in Urbana.