Brown County Village Considers Pause on New Data Center Permits

Mount Orab council member proposes 6-month moratorium following backlash over potential data center project

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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The village of Mount Orab in Brown County, Ohio is considering a temporary hold on issuing any new permits for data center construction. This comes after a council member, Eric Lang, proposed the 6-month pause to allow the village time to review and assess the feasibility and safety of a potential data center project in the area. The proposal follows council members being asked to sign non-disclosure agreements to learn more about the potential project, which has drawn opposition from some residents.

Why it matters

Data centers have become increasingly common, but they can also raise concerns around issues like energy consumption, environmental impact, and transparency. This pause gives Mount Orab an opportunity to carefully evaluate the potential project and its implications for the community before moving forward.

The details

The proposed data center project is currently just speculation, but it would be located on a 1,000-acre "mega-site" in the southeast corner of Mount Orab, south of Tri-County Highway. Council member Eric Lang introduced an ordinance that would put a 6-month pause on issuing any new permits for data center construction in the village. Lang also rescinded the non-disclosure agreement he had signed regarding the potential project, drawing cheers from residents opposed to the data center. Lang has proposed additional ordinances, including one to prohibit the use of small, modular nuclear reactors to power data centers.

  • The data center moratorium had its first reading at the Tuesday night council meeting.
  • The moratorium ordinance needs to be read two more times at the next two council meetings before a vote.

The players

Eric Lang

A Mount Orab village council member who proposed the 6-month moratorium on data center permits and rescinded his non-disclosure agreement regarding the potential project.

Danei Edelen

A Mount Orab resident who expressed support for Council member Lang's decision to rescind his non-disclosure agreement.

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What they’re saying

“We're not telling them they can't come in. We're saying we want 180 days to go through and review and look at this [project] to see if this is something that is safe or feasible for this village.”

— Eric Lang, Mount Orab Village Council Member (local12.com)

“We applaud Eric Lang for his ability to say, 'You know what, I signed this NDA, but I shouldn't have done it.' And, you know, demonstrating that courage is something we want out of our elected officials.”

— Danei Edelen (local12.com)

What’s next

The data center moratorium ordinance needs to be read two more times at the next two Mount Orab village council meetings before a vote can be held on whether to enact the 6-month pause.

The takeaway

This proposed pause on new data center permits in Mount Orab highlights the growing tensions and concerns around the rapid expansion of data centers, particularly in smaller communities. It provides an opportunity for the village to carefully evaluate the potential impacts and ensure any future data center projects align with the community's values and priorities.