Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Data Centers topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents raise environmental and water-quality concerns as Conneaut considers possible data center
Summary
Residents urged caution over a prospective data center near Conneaut’s Industrial Park, citing water-quality, heated-discharge and tax-incentive concerns; City officials said the utility is leading outreach and the city does not yet know the company’s identity.
Several Conneaut residents questioned city leaders on March 9 about a possible data center being pursued in the area, urging caution over potential environmental and infrastructure impacts.
At a public-comment period, Joel Specht asked City Manager David Sanford for the name of the company courting the city and whether local laws would protect the community if the facility caused environmental harm. "If there is a problem, do we have the laws in place to fight some billionaire company?" Specht asked. Sanford replied that the city does not know the company's name because the utility is leading outreach to the provider.
Resident Gary Pagenkopf told the council he had discussed data-center developments with state contacts and warned about possible reductions in Ohio’s water pollution standards for such facilities. Pagenkopf said the facilities' cooling systems and heated discharges could harm creeks and Lake Erie and that the city’s tourism and fishing industries depend on clean water.
Julia Barton, who identified herself as a member of Betsy’s Bees and the daughter of a union worker, said she has a background in environmental science and urged the council to apply the precautionary principle when evaluating proposals. Barton also asked the council to consider banning use of radioactive brine for roadside dust control; City Manager Sanford said the city is no longer obtaining that material and noted there has been no state guidance on alternatives.
Council members and staff gave limited technical responses. Council President Moisio said the Economic Development Committee will take up the issue; Councilmember Perkoski pointed to materials on the National League of Cities website about data centers. Councilmember Emery said he was concerned by reports that the Ohio EPA might loosen water standards, while Sanford mentioned a state bill recently introduced that would require some facilities to generate their own power or pay for grid upgrades.
The council did not take formal action on the matter; Sanford said details remain preliminary and that the Industrial Park was referenced in an assignment-of-option discussed with staff, but no developer agreement or company identity has been disclosed.
