Something All Sides are Concerned About
You may want to start by reading an overview of AI and the data centers that support its rapid expansion. It was written for the DA Greece news page. So, it's generic in scope.
However, the data center issue is one of central and growing concern in Ohio, which so far is #6 in the US with over 200 data centers. The effects on energy provision and rates, water use and quality, land use and noise pollution are of particular concern given Ohio's geographic size and population density.
Additionally, the drive to frack for gas to run power plants for these centers is yet another matter. Who profits from the use of state resources (underground natural gas reserves)? And finally, what about the loss of public revenue due to incentives granted to developers and drillers, often signed to bind these agreements decades into the future?
We'll be adding news and reports on this very large issue. Here are a few to start. Check back every so often.
An informed citizen explains the downside
Piqua city council, July 5, first reading of an ordinance to welcome a data center and supply its electricity needs. FB reel.
More References:
Data Center Watch
https://www.datacenterwatch.org/report
Ohio EPA Backs off Lowering Waste Water Standards
https://eu.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/state/2026/07/21/ohio-data-center-wastewater-permit-withdrawn/90993634007/
Effect on Rural Communities - The Nation
https://www.thenation.com/article/environment/ai-data-centers-rural-effects/
New York Becomes First State to Stall Hyper-Data-Centers
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/14072026/new-york-first-data-center-moratorium/
Stop Dirty Data Centers – a project of the NAACP
https://naacp.org/campaigns/stop-dirty-data-centers
The Lincoln Project – Erin Brockovich: Big Tech Is Draining Your Town Dry for AI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRI_oSa41z8
Erin Brockovich Data Center, site with map overlays looking at data center distribution across the US, and more.
https://brockovichdatacenter.com/
ConserveOhio – a statewide effort to get signatures for a ballot issue banning large data centers
https://conserveohio.com/
Grove City, OH pushes back on data center plans (You may need VPN for the map)
https://www.wtrf.com/top-stories/where-ohio-has-data-centers-explore-our-interactive-map/