KNOW THE FACTS

Would you like AEP to build a power plant next to your neighborhood and local elementary school for Amazon’s private use? Did you know that Ohio allows the construction of behind-the-meter power plants at data center locations operated by Amazon and other “Big Tech” entities, bypassing local control and with little oversight from the state? This is precisely what is happening at the Scioto Darby Creek Data Center in Hilliard, Ohio, and it can happen to your neighborhood, too! In Hilliard, Amazon plans to construct a fuel-cell power plant that will convert natural gas (not hydrogen) into electricity. Amazon is acting quickly with full knowledge Hilliard has no codes or ordinances in place to provide essential operational guidelines. Although this petition cites fuel cells as an example, private entities in Ohio can now choose to build power plants such as traditional gas power plants, nuclear reactors, or other new, untested technologies on their property bypassing localities. According to the Ohio Environmental Council (Ohio ESC) “Any community approving a data center must keep in mind that the center will likely be connected to natural gas at some point, even if it is not in the original application.” Therefore, this issue affects ALL of Ohio and not just Hilliard residents.

CONCERNS

There are major concerns from community residents, environmental groups, the fire department, and city council members regarding the overall safety of the fuel cell project at Scioto Darby:

• Authority: A private entity (AEP on behalf of Amazon), not Ohio residents or government officials, is able to make decisions regarding the health and safety of Ohio’s citizens.

• Emission Levels:

• Carbon Dioxide (CO₂): The proposed facility is expected to emit up to 241,000 tons of carbon dioxide every year. That’s more than double what all homes in Hilliard produce simultaneously. Even modest increases in the concentration of CO₂ can have negative short-term and permanent consequences for health, including in headaches, fatigue, stuffiness, poor concentration, loss of focus, increased heart rate, and nausea. Of course, the effect on children is much more significant, placing them at risk for life-long respiratory issues. Furthermore, localities are restricted from imposing monitoring requirements to ensure these facilities are operating safely.

• Other Emissions: This power plant will pump nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and greenhouse gases — known contributors to asthma and lung disease — into the air our children breathe.

• Fire Safety: What fire safety controls are in place? What is the impact radius of a potential explosion given the size and PSI for this pipe? Will it hit adjacent homes or the elementary school? Amazon is requesting an 8-inch natural gas pipeline, which is huge for a single-customer site.

• Cost: Data centers are already pushing our electrical rates up. Will natural gas be next? The cost of emergency services is also rising due to data centers, and data centers with on-site generation may affect property values.

• Lack of Government Oversight: This fuel-cell power plant will be the largest in North America and the second largest in the world. It will sit just a few hundred yards from Hilliard homes and less than a mile from an elementary school. There is no experiential data for this new technology at this scale. Despite that, the Ohio Power and Siting Board (OPSB)approved this project without any dispersion modeling to ensure safety for nearby children and residents.

CALL TO ACTION
Governor DeWine needs to do the following:

• Revise the proposed administrative rules for the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) to put in place appropriate guardrails to protect the children and citizens of Ohio by requiring the following before approving ANY behind-the-meter power plant project:

• A site-specific study (by an independent researcher chosen by the locality) that quantifies, models, and maps how the level of emissions (CO₂, FPM, NOx, SOx, CO, and VOCs) would behave under various atmospheric conditions (wind direction, temperature, humidity, etc.) and its impact on the surrounding neighborhoods and schools. (Note: CO₂ isn’t part of the Ohio EPA numbers.)

• A safety plan approved by the local fire department to include the radius of the impact of a potential explosion.

• A model showing the effect of the anticipated noise (decibels, etc.).

• A list of any other safety concerns.

• A safe set-back distance for residents and schools for each type of power source determined by the state that must be adhered to.

• A longer approval process for new technology, either by type or size.

• Have Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) pause their approval of Case No. 25-0649-EL-B until there is a proper independent investigation into the safety of fuel cells that convert natural gas into electricity, such as those approved for use at the Amazon data center on Scioto Darby Creek Road.

• Reinstate local control to protect Ohio’s children and citizens.

FOUR MAJOR WAYS YOU CAN HELP

#1 SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION This was created for Ohio residents to voice their concern and opposition to building powerplants near residential neighborhoods and schools, and to request Governor DeWine, the Chairs of the Energy Committees, and PUCO, to appeal the OPSB decision and make changes to the OPSB administrative rules so that it protects Ohio’s children and residents.

#2 EMAIL OR CALL GOVERNOR DEWINE’S COMMON SENSE INITIATIVE STATING THAT IT’S COMMON SENSE NOT TO PUT POWER PLANTS NEXT TO SCHOOLS, RESIDENTIAL AREAS OR PARKS. You can find the contact form here: Contact CSI | Governor Mike DeWine

#3 SHARE Talk about these issues with your friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Share this petition via email or online.

#4 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY Join our Facebook group Clean Air Hilliard and sign-up for our newsletter. Check out our website at https://hilliardcleanair.org.