Chillicothe — Council heard more public input on data center concerns in their August 10th session, as public discussion continued after the July 2nd announcement of a presumed data center on the paper mill site.
In their third session after the announcement, council also heard from the committee on the subject on August 10th, 2026. Two speakers stood out in the public address portion.
Kyle Cockrell gave a short, concise, and well-spoken address. He requested a six-month moratorium on data centers in Chillicothe, saying it was the desire of the public from all political sides, not just a radical position.
Cockrell said they are asking just for a pause – while some other places are wanting to stop data centers entirely. But a moratorium leaves all options open, and after six months, a data center could be allowed with regulations…or be blocked. He said a moratorium is the middle ground – but just allowing a data center to be developed would be an irreversible decision.
Cockrell said a moratorium is not anti-development, but is cautious and responsible government. Six months to listen to the people of Chillicothe is the least that the city should deliver.
Hear Cockrell in his own words in a screen capture of council’s official video on Facebook or YouTube, below.
Dawn Zarbakhsh described her concerns about data centers. She said that a lot of stuff is wrapped up in data centers and she feels like there is not a lot of accountability about them, and a lot of horror stories.
She said it is a bipartisan issue, with 70 to 80% of the public not wanting them, and that there has been a 175% increase in Ohio’s residential electric rate since 2005.
Zarbakhsh asked, how big is small for a data center? She said 1 to 5 megawatts is small, and that Conserve Ohio says 25MW is a community-friendly, manageable facility. But above that is at an industrial scale, and can use the power of small town. She pointed out that the one proposed for the paper mill is to be 77MW…or more.
She said that of the more than 240 data centers in Ohio, 48 moratoriums are in force and 3 are pending – and that she has information on moratoriums that she can share.
In the session, council member Kathy Dunn again responded to her assignment to gather “information to formulate possible legislation regarding data centers.” She also found out in real time that that city had hired a law form to represent them in the issue. Hear from her in my previous story.
Also read my side story on the paper mill building proposed to be used as a data center.
And, learn more in my previous stories on the issue:
- Chillicothe Council in Their Third Session After Announced “Data Center” (August 10th)
- Concerns and Info Gathering Continue on Announced Chillicothe “Data Center”(Kathy Dunn’s first report and an insider warning from the July 27th council session)
- City of Chillicothe Taking Action on Data Center Concerns (context for the issue and the July 13th council session)
- The Ross County Commissioners’ Perspective on Announced “Data Center” (as asked on August 6th)
See also news stories on data center issues in Pickaway County and elsewhere, on the Scioto Post.
A flyer found after the council session:
