Wilmington Residents for Responsible Development are struggling with a hyperscale data center on a 471-acre site adjoining numerous homes in Ohio.
As is often the case with data centers, the residents did not learn of the rezoning and annexation allowing the massive data center until it was approved and too late to appeal. That left opposing compensation agreements, plan approvals, and other actions as the best next options for averting data center impacts.
The residents engaged CEDS after coming across our How to Protect Your Home from Data Center Impacts webpage.
CEDS drafted a letter recommending a number of changes to Wilmington laws to enhance resident safeguards from data center impacts. At the same time, CEDS created an online petition that would be more effective in demonstrating widespread support among Wilmington voters. For reasons explained on the CEDS Mobilizing Public Support for Preserving Neighborhoods webpage, this format increases petition effectiveness in gaining elected official support by tenfold when compared to usual petitions. CEDS then provided the residents with a document showing that nearly a fourth of Wilmington residents supported their position. We believe this tremendous showing of concern, along with a letter from Good Jobs First and Policy Matters Ohio critical of data center economic benefits, were key factors in convincing City elected officials to postpone approval of a compensation agreement.
The residents learned that the Wilmington Planning Commission was set to consider – possibly approve – a Site Plan for the data center. Approval of this plan could have made it far more difficult to put highly-effective safeguards in place.
CEDS drafted testimony divided into three-minute presentations to help Planning Commission members understand that the Site Plan not only failed to demonstrate that noise, health, and other impacts would not be resolved but that required Site Plan approval findings had not been met. This testimony plus a turnout of concerned area residents that overflowed the hearing room convinced the Planning Commission to withhold Site Plan approval.
Though the battle is not yet won, the outlook is far more promising then it was just two months ago. The residents have a number of other tactics that make up their overall strategy. The successes won so far are due primarily to the leadership provided by Jessica Sharp and her neighbors. It is rare that CEDS can help win these cases without strong, savvy, and dedicated leadership of the type Jessica has provided.
For further detail on how CEDS can help visit the How to Protect Your Home from Data Center Impacts webpage or contact us at 410-654-3021 or help@ceds.org.