St. Bernard Data Center Moratorium Passed Amid Concerns Over Environmental Impacts
A proposed data center in St. Bernard, Ohio, has been put on hold for at least 12 months after the village passed a moratorium.
The project was to be located at Ivorydale, the old Procter & Gamble complex, and CAI Investments had obtained a lease offer from a glove manufacturer funded by the federal government. However, this deal fell through.
Trustee Christopher Beavor compares the necessity of data centers to that of a cellphone tower, emphasizing that they do not pose significant environmental risks. He notes that most lease offers for the building have been for data centers and is now considering bringing in a chemical company on short notice if the moratorium is lifted.
Village service director Mark Wendling expressed skepticism about the project, stating that there has been no hard data provided by CAI Investments regarding its potential impacts. He believes that passing the moratorium will give the village time to assess these risks and ensure that they align with community values.