Norwich trustees unanimously authorize letter opposing proposed 73‑MW fuel cell for Amazon data center

Norwich Township Board of Trustees on Nov. 11 authorized Township Administrator Jamie Fisher to write and send a letter stating opposition and concerns about a proposed 73‑megawatt natural‑gas fuel cell system intended to provide supplemental power for the Amazon data center on Scioto Darby Road in Hilliard, Ohio.

Fire Chief Dave Baird presented the Fire Department's position and raised concerns about the proposal; the minutes record that trustees discussed those concerns before voting. The motion to authorize the letter (motion #251111.01) was made by Rick Tidd and seconded by Sonny Cantrell and passed unanimously (Cantrell—Yes; Tidd—Yes; Young—Yes).

The motion and supporting discussion in the minutes do not list the specific safety or environmental language that will appear in the letter, only that the board and the Fire Department oppose the proposed fuel cell system. The minutes describe the system as a 73‑megawatt natural‑gas fuel cell to provide supplemental power for the Amazon facility; no permit filings, vendors, or responding parties are recorded in the minutes.

What happens next: the minutes record that Mrs. Jamie Fisher was authorized to write and send the letter on behalf of the trustees. The record does not state the intended recipient, timeline for sending the letter, or any planned follow‑up action by the board.

Trustees' next procedural steps were not specified in the minutes; no vote on permitting, zoning or ordinance changes appears in the record.