Columbus Hailed as Top Data Center Spot Despite Local Backlash

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Despite growing community opposition to a proposed $2 billion Amazon data center campus in the Columbus suburb of Sunbury, a global real estate firm has praised the Columbus region as a prime destination for data center development, citing the area's significant benefits and advantages.

Why it matters

The conflict in Sunbury highlights the tensions that can arise as major tech companies seek to expand their data infrastructure footprint, often in smaller communities that may have concerns about the environmental impact, water usage, and other issues associated with large-scale data centers.

The details

Residents packed a March 23 Sunbury Planning and Zoning Commission meeting to voice their opposition to the Amazon project, which would be located on 300 acres just outside the city limits. Locals cited concerns about the facility's water consumption, potential environmental damage, and the strain it could place on local infrastructure and services.

• The Sunbury Planning and Zoning Commission meeting took place on March 23, 2026.
• Amazon has proposed building a $2 billion data center campus on 300 acres near Sunbury.

What’s next

The Sunbury Planning and Zoning Commission will continue to review the Amazon data center proposal and gather public feedback before making a decision.