Findlay Data Center Zoning Proposal

The Mayor has asked for input on their idea of what they believe is a good set of guidelines. Councilwoman Kensinger has described their guidelines as medium strict. I believe most people want STRICT. Like so strict they don’t want to come here. Below are the bullet points for HB983. This bill is in the House and I think it has the best guardrails for data centers. The Mayors idea that each data center proposal should be looked at on a case by case task leaves too much wiggle room for shady favors for friendly developers.

Please take a look at the comparison below and consider writing to both our city council and our state representatives and ask them to support the strictest guidelines.

🗳 Citizen Approval

Findlay

No public vote required. Planning Commission decides.

HB983

Requires voter approval before qualifying projects or expansions.

⚡ Power Supply

Findlay

Must study grid impacts; may use public electric grid.

HB983

Requires data centers to provide their own power rather than shifting costs to other ratepayers.

💰 Tax Incentives

Findlay

Does not prohibit tax abatements or incentives.

HB983

Prohibits future local tax incentives for covered data centers.

📄 Public Transparency

Findlay

Development agreements may be negotiated but are not automatically public.

HB983

Makes development agreements public records.

🧪 Chemical Disclosure

Findlay

Limited disclosure requirements.

HB983

Requires disclosure of cooling and wastewater chemicals.

🌎 Environmental Testing

Findlay

Applicant provides studies reviewed by the city.

HB983

Requires independent environmental testing and public reporting.

💧 Water Protection

Findlay

No groundwater for cooling; detailed water-use reporting required.

HB983

Adds statewide environmental protections and liability for damage.

🏠 Distance from Homes

Findlay

1,000-foot minimum setback from homes, schools, parks, hospitals, and nursing homes.

HB983

No comparable statewide setback requirement.

🔊 Noise Limits

Findlay

Day: 55 dBA; Night: 45 dBA at residential property lines.

HB983

No comparable statewide noise limits.

🚧 Site Design

Findlay

Extensive rules for landscaping, lighting, screening, traffic, drainage, and decommissioning.

HB983

Focuses more on public policy than local site design.

💵 Infrastructure Costs

Findlay

Applicant generally responsible for improvements “where legally permissible.”

HB983

Expressly prevents shifting costs to taxpayers and ratepayers.

⚖ Liability

Findlay

Financial guarantees may be required by the city.

HB983

Creates statutory liability for damage to water supplies and infrastructure.

If Jon Cross is involved, pay attention.

Cross cosponsored HB6, the FirstEnergy bailout at the center of Larry Householder's racketeering conviction. Before that vote he took $12,700 from FirstEnergy's PAC and $7,500 from AEP. Householder is serving 20 years. Ohioans are still paying for the bill Cross helped write.

He's out of the legislature now and running a consulting firm. So the question for Hancock County is simple: who's paying him this time, and what do they want?

Ope, figured it out. Tell your friends.

Also, thank you Holly Frische for recording the meeting this still was taken from.