WARREN, Ohio – Since plans became public last year for a proposed $3.6 billion artificial intelligence data center in Lordstown, area communities have been taking a sharper look at whether they want such facilities, which are considered vital for growth in the information technology sector.
At least five data centers in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys are either underway or in the early proposal stages. Ohio is home to some 200 data centers already.
Proponents of data centers argue they drive investment and create jobs in construction and related fields. Opponents raise concerns over the centers’ often enormous water usage and power consumption, impacting the cost and availability of utilities locally; noise pollution; and relatively low job creation once the centers are constructed.
Local proposals have spurred reaction from communities.
Lordstown first enacted an outright ban on new data center development in response to Bristolville 25 Developer LLC’s proposed center, then rescinded it and imposed a 180-day moratorium, prompting the developer to file suit against the village.
Officials in Weathersfield responded to a plan by Bitdeer to build a new data center at the site of the former Niles Power Plant – property that is partially in Niles and the township – by saying the township portion of the property is not zoned for such use.
Niles also recently enacted a six-month moratorium on data centers. And Boardman enacted a one-year moratorium on data center development in late April.
Data centers already have a presence in the region. Power Northwest, a nonprofit economic development advocacy group, was launched in western Pennsylvania in February to offer a unified regional voice to capitalize on the emerging opportunities in the energy and technology sectors.
Do such centers represent opportunities for growth? Yes, but that potential needs to be weighed against the needs of local communities.
Some proposals being discussed would include provisions for centers to make arrangements for on-site power generation so as not to affect local cost and availability for energy, and to protect local water resources. Such measures appear prudent, but more must be done to balance economic development interests and quality of life.
