CINCINNATI — The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is considering a new general permit for data centers that would give data centers authorization to discharge wastewater into surface waters like rivers and streams.
Currently, data centers must secure individual permits. That process can be slower and usually receives approvals on a case-by-case basis. The Ohio EPA says the new general permit would speed things up while maintaining strict environmental protections.
WATCH: A breakdown of what Ohio's EPA is considering when it comes to new wastewater permits for data centers
Over the last couple of years, WCPO 9 News has tracked several high-profile data center or "megasite" proposals in the Tri-State:
- Cincinnati citywide regulation talks: Cincinnati City Council began to craft rules to manage future data center development, citing growing demand driven by AI and high-energy computing workloads.
- Adams County, Ohio: A proposed facility at a former Dayton Power & Light landfill site north of the Stuart power plant has drawn significant opposition. The WCPO 9 I-Team reported it could become one of the state’s biggest power users, ranking third statewide for capacity in PJM filings.
- Mason County, Kentucky (Maysville): Plans for a sprawling 2,080-acre, 400-gigawatt facility have spurred heated public meetings. WCPO covered multiple confrontations between attorneys representing residents and developers, with a local citizens group promising legal action to stop construction.
- Mt. Sterling, Ohio: While less publicly detailed, the WCPO I-Team identified a 2-gigawatt data center project in filings, placing it among the largest in Ohio alongside Adams County.
- Mount Orab Megasite: The Mount Orab Village Council implemented a 180-day moratorium on new data center permits following intense community backlash regarding a 1,000-acre "mega-site" project (known as DB STU LLC) on Route 32, which residents fear will strain utilities.
- Wilmington, Ohio: A $4 billion Amazon data services project, where the city council approved zoning changes to pave the way for the industrial development
- Trenton, Ohio: A roughly 880,000 square foot site from prospective developer, Prologis, but residents say transparency has been an issue since the beginning of the project
- Hamilton, Ohio: A proposed $1 million data center project by Logistix Property Group, which has been a point of contention for months in Hamilton
As far as state regulation of ongoing data center projects, the Ohio EPA insists that any increase in pollution under the general permit would be limited. The agency says increases would only be allowed for critical community or economic needs, with rivers, lakes and streams still safeguarded for wildlife, recreation and drinking water.
The latest in Wilmington, Ohio
Across the Tri-State, residents have been voicing their fears about the environmental impacts of these facilities. In Wilmington, residents are pushing back against data centers.
Jessica Sharp, whose backyard faces a proposed data center site, founded Wilmington Residents for Responsible Development. Sharp is leading a campaign to halt data center rezoning altogether, shifting the decision to voters on November's ballot.
"Responsible development, we've been saying all along, does not sacrifice the few for the many," Sharp said.
Sharp recently came to a mediated agreement Wednesday, when a Clinton County judge ordered Wilmington to pause further movement on the Wilmington Amazon Data Services project this week until they allow adequate time for public input.
Read more about the Ohio EPA's new permit below:
