Ohio Data Center Proposal Withdrawn Amid Community Opposition in Preble County

Data Center Proposal Withdrawn After Public Opposition

A controversial proposal to develop a data center facility in Preble County, Ohio has been formally withdrawn, according to reports. The property owners of approximately 300 acres of land south of Interstate 70 had sought to rezone the property from agricultural to limited industrial use to accommodate data center development.

Data Center Proposal Withdrawn After Public Opposition
Community Resistance Forces Reevaluation
Developer Background and Regional Context
Broader Energy Demand Trends
Future Development Considerations

Community Resistance Forces Reevaluation

The intensity of local opposition became apparent during a September public hearing that attracted so many residents they brought their own garden chairs to accommodate the overflow crowd, sources indicate. Community members lined up to express their concerns about the potential development during the session.

In response to this public feedback, the owners withdrew their rezoning request on September 29, just two days before the Preble County Board of Commissioners was scheduled to vote on the proposal. The withdrawal statement noted that “this process requires a different approach and will be re-evaluated sometime in the future,” according to the report.

Developer Background and Regional Context

The development was backed by PRSM, a land development company specializing in digital infrastructure that was formed in 2022. The company’s website states it focuses on delivering “utility-ready, entitled sites for low-impact data center development” with projects in multiple states including Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Kentucky.

While Preble County itself isn’t currently a data center hotspot, analysts suggest Ohio has seen growing interest from data center operators in recent years. The county is located in western Ohio north of Cincinnati and borders Indiana.

Broader Energy Demand Trends

The withdrawal comes amid significant energy demand growth projections for data centers in Ohio. American Electric Power Ohio, the state’s largest utility company, reportedly forecasts that sector demand could grow from 600MW in 2024 to 5GW by 2030.

This projected growth occurs despite recent utility policy changes implemented in July that require data centers to pay for at least 85 percent of their projected energy needs regardless of actual consumption. The utility reportedly stated these policies have already reduced projected data center demand from 30GW to 13GW, according to their analysis.

Future Development Considerations

The withdrawal suggests that community engagement and energy infrastructure considerations are becoming increasingly important factors in data center development decisions. The property owners’ statement indicates they may revisit the project with a modified approach in the future, though no specific timeline has been provided.

This case highlights the growing challenges facing data center developers as they balance expansion needs with community concerns and utility infrastructure limitations, particularly in regions experiencing rapid growth in digital infrastructure demand.

References

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