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Residents urge moratorium, raise health and environmental concerns about proposed data center
Summary
Multiple residents at the July 15 Ottawa City Commission meeting urged the city to pause decisions on a proposed data center at Proximity Park, citing water use, noise, decommissioning risks and a need for enforceable code changes and independent technical review.
Dozens of residents used the public-comment period at the July 15 Ottawa City Commission meeting to press elected officials to pause consideration of large data-center development and to write stronger, enforceable regulations.
Susan Hughes of 1201 South Ashe told commissioners she was concerned about water supplies, hazardous contaminants, excessive noise and impacts on property values, and pointed to Lawrence’s unanimous two-year moratorium as a model. “This is not something we could have foreseen earlier…we need more time in order to get some adequate coding in there, some regulations, that we can be sure we’re all safe,” Hughes said.
Other speakers described economic and technical risks. Brooke Sheets requested “an immediate two-year moratorium” and a list of specific changes: formal definitions for data centers and crypto operations, measurable noise limits, a required 100% closed-loop cooling system, developer-funded hazard mitigation and decommissioning plans, and independent third-party technical reviews during any pause. “We must rely on independent third-party expert witnesses to evaluate acoustic, hydrologic and grid impacts,” Sheets said.
Eileen Spickler warned that the 300-acre Proximity Park site is a community asset that developers may treat as a pre-permitted tradable commodity, and asked for clarity on what commitments the developer Lightfield Energy has made. Barb Wanderly urged the commission to consider a moratorium or study period, saying some data centers become obsolete in five to ten years and can leave communities “with a mess to clean up.”
Commissioners did not take immediate action on the requests during the public-comment period. Several speakers emphasized a need for more disclosure about developer commitments, enforceable code language on noise and water use, and independent technical study before land sales or approvals proceed. The public comments join an ongoing conversation about the Proximity Park site and follow nearby jurisdictions’ moratoria mentioned by residents.
