Central Ohio Community Rejects Proposed 680-Acre Data Center

Local authorities deny EdgeConneX's request to expand data center footprint after residents voice concerns

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A proposed 680-acre data center project from EdgeConneX in Central Ohio has been denied by local authorities after concerned residents pushed back against the development. The initial 200-acre data center plan had already been approved, but EdgeConneX's request to annex an additional 490 acres was rejected by the Asheville Village Council following a public outcry from residents worried about the impact on their small town.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing tensions between data center operators and local communities who are grappling with the tradeoffs of economic development and environmental concerns. As data centers proliferate across the country, residents are increasingly pushing back against large-scale projects that they fear will transform the character of their towns and negatively impact quality of life.

The details

EdgeConneX had been granted a 30-year property tax abatement for the initial 200-acre data center site, but residents complained that key details about water and power usage were not shared. At a packed city council meeting, EdgeConneX tried to tout potential benefits like an AI training program, but residents remained unconvinced, voicing concerns about noise, pollution, and the data center turning their town into an 'industrial, polluted' area. While the initial 200-acre project was already zoned, the city council voted to pause any new data center projects for 180 days. When EdgeConneX then requested to annex an additional 490 acres, the council ultimately denied the expansion.

  • In November 2025, details of EdgeConneX's data center plans were first revealed to the Asheville community.
  • In January 2026, a packed city council meeting saw residents strongly oppose the data center project.
  • On February 2, 2026, the Asheville Village Council denied EdgeConneX's request to annex an additional 490 acres for the data center expansion.

The players

EdgeConneX

A global data center business that had proposed building a 680-acre data center campus in Central Ohio.

Asheville Village Council

The local governing body that ultimately denied EdgeConneX's request to expand the data center footprint after hearing from concerned residents.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

EdgeConneX may have to rethink its entire data center plan for the Central Ohio region after the Asheville Village Council denied its request to annex an additional 490 acres for expansion.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing tensions between data center operators and local communities who are increasingly pushing back against large-scale projects that they fear will negatively transform the character of their towns. As data centers proliferate, residents are demanding more transparency and a greater voice in the development process.