Organizer warns council about data-center impacts and urges protection for Youngstown water

Keisha Washington, a community organizer, told council members that data centers and other water- and power-intensive industries can strain local infrastructure, raise utility costs for nearby residents, and cause pollution from backup generators. She said data centers currently account for a growing share of U.S. electricity use and asserted a single large data center could need millions of gallons of water per day; she urged the council to demand thorough research of any prospective sites.

"Youngstown residents need protection from these false economic solutions that create a tiny number of local jobs after the construction is complete," Washington said, listing peer-reviewed studies she said show air-quality and public-health risks.

Council members thanked local activists for their advocacy. Councilwoman Davis reminded the body that Youngstown already has an ordinance prohibiting privatization of city water but warned that an ordinance could be changed by a future council; she urged supporters to pursue charter language that would make water protections harder to reverse.

The council did not vote on any data-center-specific regulation; Councilman Ray and others commended residents’ engagement. Councilmember discussions indicated the city will rely on existing permit and review processes for now and that any formal policy change would require follow-up beyond this meeting.