The opposition of Grove City residents to the construction of a 310-acre data center in the suburbs of Columbus has created significant political tensions in this conservative area. Patty Spillman and Jenny Belt, two local activists, jointly lead a group called Protect Grove City, which aims to prevent the construction of this data center.
Residents' Concerns
Spillman, who has a 165-year-old farm, and Belt, an artist and marketing contractor, face multiple concerns including water consumption, noise, and environmental issues. Spillman recalls how her family rejected an offer to sell 30 acres of their land for $1.5 million to a development company in Texas. She says, "This is our community; if we don’t want you, what then?"
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Political Consequences
Public protests have led to the passage of a one-year moratorium on data center construction by the Grove City Council. In November, residents will vote on a proposal that subjects all large projects to public voting. This issue has somewhat harmed local policies and the midterm elections, as some local leaders, including Richard "Ike" Stage, have opposed these efforts, stating that this initiative harms economic growth.
Across the state of Ohio, opposition to data center construction is on the rise. Polls show that over 70 percent of voters oppose the construction of a data center in their area, and in Ohio, this figure reaches 80 percent. More than 100 local governments in Ohio have decided to enact a moratorium on data center construction, and others are considering legislation to ban these projects.
The presence of data centers has become a key issue in the midterm elections, and some Democrats hope that this issue will be influential in elections in red states like Ohio. However, it is unclear whether this issue will be raised as a major topic in the elections.
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