Ohio Residents Push for Moratorium Amidst Uncertainty

In Conneaut, Ohio, residents are actively working to prevent the development of data centers, despite a lack of official confirmation regarding any specific proposals. According to Farm and Dairy, the city council has not scheduled a vote on allowing a data center, and no such vote is currently planned. However, residents report that developers have offered significant sums for their land, and the city council recently rejected a data center moratorium.

For instance, Victoria and Jonathan Dampf informed the city council that a developer offered them $2 million for their property. Farm and Dairy notes that M2 Development Solutions began studying the feasibility of a data center at the Conneaut East Industrial Park last year. Joel Specht, a Conneaut resident, stated, “We know there has been one in the works,” and collected signatures to place a data center moratorium on the November ballot. This proposed moratorium would apply to centers requiring more than 25 megawatts of power.

Residents like Julia Barton, who operates an organic farm, express concerns about heavy water use, excessive noise, and the potential for developers to exploit the community, altering its rural character. Barton stated, “Things like agri-tourism, fishing, canoeing and hiking make this a really special place to live. This kind of development is really shortsighted and has the potential to be a detriment to the things that sustain us.”

The ambiguity surrounding data center proposals is a key driver for resident action. Developers often use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to keep plans confidential, a practice that has been referenced by Conneaut residents in city council meetings to express concerns about transparency, according to Farm and Dairy. Specht views the moratorium as a proactive measure, stating, “If there were contracts and signatures, it would be much harder to fight this. We’re catching it beforehand.”

Companion Community Strategies

Other communities facing data center proposals have implemented various strategies:

• New York, NY: Governor Kathy Hochul is recommending that local governments seek community investments of at least $1 million per megawatt from data center developers, as reported by Sun Herald. This recommendation follows New York becoming the first U.S. state to impose a moratorium on large new data centers. Empire State Development President Hope Knight noted, “Because data centers are not major local job generators, their economic development profile differs from traditional manufacturing.”
• Grand Junction, CO: The City of Grand Junction has enacted a one-year moratorium on data center development to allow time for the creation of a precise regulatory code. The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel states that this proactive measure aims to address the city's vulnerability, as data centers are not currently addressed in its code. City Manager Mike Bennett explained, “so that’s a vulnerability we would have if we were to receive such an application.” Interim Community Development Director Thomas Lloyd emphasized the need for clear delineation to prevent data centers from fitting under other uses.
• Knoxville, TN: Knoxville and Knox County have a one-year moratorium on new large data centers greater than 10 megawatts. The Tennessean highlights that this pause reflects concerns about noise pollution from cooling systems, industrial fans, transformers, and backup generators, as well as the significant electricity and water consumption of these facilities. The article also notes that TVA recently approved a new rate structure to increase electricity costs for data centers, aiming to ensure they pay more of the costs they impose on the grid.
• Effingham County, GA: Following a visit from the “AI Data Center Revolt Tour Bus,” Effingham County Commissioners discussed a possible ordinance for data centers, according to WSAV News 3. While the county currently lacks a specific ordinance, leaders are considering a conditional use approach, strengthening noise ordinances to include low-frequency noises, adding standards and buffers for generators, and requiring traffic studies. Commissioner Beth Helmly has advocated for a data center moratorium.

What Remains Undecided

In Conneaut, the fate of the proposed data center moratorium, which is on the November ballot, remains undecided. The city council's stance on future data center proposals and whether they will implement any specific regulations or moratoria is also pending. The extent of developer interest and the potential for further land acquisition offers in the area are ongoing concerns for residents. The broader impact of data center development on Conneaut's rural character and infrastructure is also a subject of continued discussion and uncertainty.