CIRCLEVILLE, OH — Speculation is mounting in Pickaway County over a rumored 400-acre development near Rickenbacker International Airport, a site currently designated as “tech-ready” and linked to potential major industrial or data center expansion.
While local officials have not confirmed the specific “end user” for the massive parcel, the project’s strategic location within a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ #138) and its proximity to the newly designated “Arsenal-1” defense manufacturing hub have fueled intense local interest and debate.
The “Arsenal” Impact
The mystery site is situated near the 500-acre campus currently under construction for Anduril Industries. That project, known as Arsenal-1, is a $900 million investment dedicated to manufacturing autonomous weapons systems and is scheduled to begin production in July 2026.
The state recently allocated $70 million for infrastructure upgrades at Rickenbacker, specifically to support Anduril’s operations. This has led to speculation that the adjacent 400-acre site may be a critical “supplier park” or a second phase of development for the defense contractor.
Data Center Fears Fuel Moratoriums
However, the phrase “tech-ready” has also sounded alarms for Pickaway County residents concerned about the rapid encroachment of “Data Center Alley” from neighboring Franklin and Licking Counties. Data centers, while lucrative in property tax revenue, consume massive amounts of electricity and water while creating relatively few permanent jobs.
Resistance is already solidifying in the southern part of the county:
- South Bloomfield: The Village Council recently adopted a new zoning code that explicitly removes data centers as a permitted use.
- Ashville: has passed moratorium on new data center construction.
The Power Question
Adding to the tension is the recent implementation of AEP Ohio’s new “Data Center Tariff.” The policy requires data centers to sign binding contracts ensuring they pay for a vast majority of the power they reserve, regardless of actual usage.
This new “exit fee” structure has largely eliminated speculative developers from the market. Consequently, experts believe that any company moving forward with a 400-acre project in the current environment must be a major global entity, likely in the defense, aerospace, or “hyperscale” cloud computing sectors.
