St Bernard Village Passes Data Center Moratorium, Halts Proposed Project

The village of St. Bernard in Ohio has passed a 12-month moratorium on data centers, effectively halting a proposed project at the old Procter & Gamble complex, known as Ivorydale.

CAI Investments owns the factory that was recently occupied by the St. Bernard Soap Company, which folded in 2024. Trustee Christopher Beavor says the company had a rough exit from Ivorydale, with his firm suing the owners for millions in unpaid rent.

Beavor compared the data center's necessity to that of a cellphone tower, arguing that it would have minimal impact on the environment. However, village service director Mark Wendling and his staff are skeptical, citing concerns about potential expansion and lack of concrete data from CAI Investments.

The moratorium gives the village time to assess the potential impacts on the community and residents. Beavor had been considering a glove manufacturer funded by the federal government but says he may now pursue a chemical company instead if the data center project is not revived.