Chillicothe — With concerns about data centers in the news, a Facebook page was created the day after the announcement of the proposed data center in the former paper mill, to fight it. I interviewed its founder, Portia Boulger.
“Appalachians Against Data Centers” was founded by by Boulger on July 3rd, and currently has 179 members. Our 40-minute conversation on September 19th at her home in Ross County is in four parts below.
She discussed concerns about the “data hall” proposed by Alignment Engine Inc. on the “Chilpaco Innovation Campus,” but also her distrust of John Todoroki, owner of “US Paper Mill” which is leasing to Alignment Engine, and disappointment in city officials.
“The goal of this group is to provide:
“1. Information about data centers, focusing on the center that is scheduled to be built in Chillicothe, Ohio, and other parts of our state, including Pike County.
“2. Provide a place where people can come together to learn, discuss, plan, organize, and take action to save our town, county, and state from the harm that a data center will cause to all of us due to the extreme pollution of noise, air, water, and soil.”
After the interview, she mentioned that growth of data centers needs to be restrained, and that blocking this one would help that. Boulger has been active in other local battles, and she requested that I mention that “I have 2 adult children, 5 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren and I have a brother who lives in California. They are very important to me.”
I happened to speak with Boulger a day after she confronted Mayor Luke Feeney and other city officials over the February letter the city sent the developer of the proposed “data hall.” Boulger recorded an almost four-minute Facebook Live video after the confrontation, with additional comments.
I offered Mayor Feeney the opportunity to respond in an interview, but he declined that, and instead he and I spoke about the data center issue and the city’s powers concerning it. Stay tuned for that video interview soon. (I also hope to interview the leadership of US Paper Mill LLC to offer them fairness in coverage, as well as Alignment Engine Inc.)
Boulger said she wants to encourage people to attend Chillicothe Council on Monday, September 28th, and make their wishes known – civilly. Council is unable to meet at the large-capacity CHS auditorium like they have recently, and will instead be meeting in Room B of the Main Annex of the Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library, behind 140 South Paint Street (between West 5th and 6th streets).
Among other public debate on the data center topic are:
A Change.org petition: “STOP Paper Mill from turning into a datacenter! KEEP OUR WATER CLEAN & ENERGY AFFORDABLE!” Created on the day of the announcement, as of September 25th it has 3,692 signatures and 61 comments.
“Conserve Ohio” is a statewide initiative effort that has been collecting signatures to allow voters to to limit the size of new data centers by amending the Ohio Constitution.
Search the Scioto Post for other stories on the issue.
- Who she is
- Why she started it
- Criticism of city leaders
- Concerns about workers at former paper mill
- Distrust of John Todoroki, owner of US Paper Mill
- We need safe manufacturing there
- City should use its power to control suspicious developments
- The big question: What is wrong with data centers?
- The proposed “data hall” is just the core of a data center – it can be just the beginning of bigger
- Pulling the wool over the eyes of incompetent council
- Data center developers have swooped down on Appalachia because they think we’re stupid
- Should we let 8 or 9 people make a decision for the county behind closed doors?
- The “data hall” proposal is just a word salad
- You must prove you’re financially sound for a bank loan – why not prove it to city for development?
- The city is loaning out our police, fire department, water, air to developer – we need accountability in writing
- What has been accomplished with “Appalachians Against Data Centers”?
- Is more of a clearinghouse, bringing people together and sharing information
- The girl who spoke at the microphone on 9/14 should have been lifted up, not mocked
- Do the glove workers have health insurance? Why not help them get better jobs?
- Why so interested in helping Todoroki and going against the community will?
- How to learn more? Come to the Facebook page – only need to answer three questions to join
- Learning from other data center battles and lifting them up
- Hard to be a grass-roots activist – called crazy, all sorts of labels
- Next step is to get people to the next council session
- You have a right to speak, but not to scream
- Need to focus on accountability – how to keep clean air, water, soil
- The logic of the February letter is BS – the city can’t say no
- The zoning ordinance may not be saying a data center is or is not allowed, but that does not justify allowing one
- The County Auditor was acting responsibly when he reported the big land transfer to the public
- Just a news release from the mayor on facts about the data center would do
- Sounds like Republicans on council are in the know much more than Democrats – the Sunshine Law is being broken
- The only way to stop the data center is for people to rise up – but we must be civil
Boulger’s criticizm and accusations against Feeney – as well as John Todoroki, the founder and owner of US Paper Mill and US Medical Glove Company. I excerpted those parts of the interview into this video. Again, I offered Mayor Feeney the opportunity to respond in an interview, but he declined that.
- Why the rush rush to help Mr. Torodoroki?
- The moratorium needed to be done so we can learn more, but then bring in silly letter and say it was legally binding, and need to save city from lawsuit
- Where are permits, environmental studies, financial impact statements?
- Feeney admitted he knew Todoroki was under federal investigation, but why not let the community know?
- Mayor’s job is to keep in communication with the community – he should be the mouthpiece of the community
- He did such a good job during covid – what happened to that man?
