Letter to the editor: Data centers spark pollution concerns for local farmers

Editor’s note: The Portager publishes letters to the editor from the community. The opinions expressed are published not because they necessarily reflect those of the publication but because we feel they contribute meaningfully to the local discourse on matters of public interest.

I wish to express my deep concern regarding the increased possibility of building a “data center” on the Geiss development property (Turnpike Commerce Center). I verbally expressed my concern at a meeting last year and I now wish to express formally.

What the community and I are currently not aware of is any proposed specificity of size and type of data center; how the center will be powered, cooled, supplied for water, and emergency power back up choices. Each design type brings a varying degree of concern.

Abstract: The main grievance is that data centers are simply resource hogs. A typical center can use over half a million gallons of water a day and enough electrical energy to supply more than 700,000 homes (source Bloomberg). Even if these initial concerns could be addressed or mitigated the remaining concern is various forms of pollution.

Water Footprint: If the data center plans on using cooling/make-up water from a local water main line or from drilling wells remains a question. I read in a meeting report that a legal representative of the Geiss Company reserves the right to drill wells, which I assume is their right, but I would argue it is not their right to take all the water from the table. 

Cooling: The center may be cooled in many ways, but each method brings a set of environmental problems. Open towers bring high water usage, fan/pump noise and biohazards (tower mist drift). Closed tower loops have similar but less deleterious issues.

Power: I assume the data center will “tie” into the existing First Energy-Bruce Mansfield- Glenwillow 345 kV transmission line that transits the north edge of the property. Would the data center pay for the required stepdown substation cost…or would the cost be passed on to First Energy customers? Generation/transmission costs and power limits are already under severe stress in our regulated grid area (PJM Interconnection Grid). First Energy will soon be required to add generation and transmission infrastructure, and the cost will enviably be carried by the consumer through PUCO decisions.  

Noise Pollution: Should the data center decide to generate their own power, whether for day-to-day main source or occasional backup emergency power, the choices are typically large diesels or gas turbines. Either choice brings both noise and air pollution.  The diesels will emit low frequency noise and vibration that may meet the assumed 60-dB noise level guidelines but because the scale is not specified the noise will still travel long distances.  The gas turbines will pollute at the other end of the spectrum with high frequency noise and vibrations. The First Energy substation transformer(s) will emit the quintessential 60 cycle hum and fan noise.

Air Pollution: Both diesel engines and gas turbines emit air pollution in the form of particulate, volatile compounds and gases. Northeast Ohio already has air quality issues and Shalersville has the adjacent Ohio Turnpike and route 44 to add to the toxic mix. 

The Ohio Turnpike reports that over 12 million commercial vehicles transit per year.  The traffic contributes to local NOx and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, which create ozone and particle pollution. I believe a data center will contribute to the aggregate of the already high levels of local pollution. Note the recent retraction and relaxation of federal EPA standards for air pollution.

Ground Pollution: In the choice of gas turbine or diesel generators there remains the risk of fuel and oil spills or chemicals from ancillary units during operations and maintenance evolutions.  

More: Perhaps a minor concern is that a data center doesn’t really bring any long-term or relevant revenue to the area in proportion to the energy-resource usage footprint. 

The data center will also bring light pollution to our night sky. 

Does the presence of a data center expose our community to increased risk from domestic and foreign terrorists? Perhaps our local FBI office could advise on that concern. 

Finally, please be good stewards and look out for the welfare, health and safety of the township residents. I believe that no one invested in living in the local area wants a data center in our community.

—Jim Elsey, Shalersville