The Ground Rules

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Data centers, built responsibly

We're a group of neighbors in and around New Albany. We want the data centers here, and the gas plants that power them, held to every rule that protects our air, our water and our electric bills, without workarounds.

Join us Where we stand

Last checked against sources on .

Where we stand

We're asking developers, the city and the state for seven things. Open any of them to see the filings and reports behind it.

  1. Full Clean Air Act review, taken willingly

    Our position: plants this large should accept the full major-source review, including its technology standard and air-quality analysis. They should not file reduced loads, run-hour caps or similar limits whose purpose is to stay under the threshold.

    The facts behind it

    Under the federal Clean Air Act, a new "major source" of air pollution goes through a review called Prevention of Significant Deterioration. It must install the Best Available Control Technology, show it will not push air quality past federal health standards, and take public input.1 A plant that could emit at major-source levels can avoid that review by accepting enforceable limits that keep its permitted emissions just under the line, which makes it a "synthetic minor" source.2

    Ohio EPA plans to treat PowerConneX New Albany 3, a 450 MW plant with 30 gas engines, as a major source for its operating permit. For Prevention of Significant Deterioration, it would count as a minor source.3

  2. Best Available Technology on every unit

    Our position: developers should apply Best Available Technology to every turbine, engine and backup generator, and not rely on the small-unit exemption.

    The facts behind it

    Ohio law requires new sources of air pollution to use "best available technology." Since a 2006 state law, units whose potential emissions are under 10 tons a year are exempt.4 The plants planned here are built from many smaller units: dozens of turbines and engines at a single site.5

  3. Don't consume our water

    Our position: new data centers should use cooling that doesn't depend on drinking water, such as closed-loop or air cooling, or reclaimed water.

    The facts behind it, and the rest of our position

    Data centers draw on the same public water system as our homes. Google's New Albany data center alone withdrew about 1 billion gallons in 2025.6

    Our position, continued: They should pay the full cost of any water infrastructure they need and publish how much water they use each year.

  4. Pay their own way

    Our position: data centers and their power plants should cover their full electricity, gas, water and grid costs, without raising residential rates.

    The facts behind it, and the rest of our position

    According to the independent market monitor for PJM, data center demand has added $29.4 billion to the grid's capacity costs over four auctions.7 Households pay capacity costs through the generation part of their electric bills.8

    Our position, continued: Tax breaks should come with public reporting and clawbacks if the promised jobs and investment don't arrive.

  5. Build on land that's already been built on

    Our position: data centers and their power plants should go on brownfields, former industrial sites and vacant land already zoned for industry, not on working farmland or wetlands.

    The facts behind it, and the rest of our position

    PowerConneX New Albany 3 alone would take about 59 acres of farmland out of production and permanently affect more than 14 acres of wetlands, according to state siting staff.3

    Our position, continued: They should be kept well away from homes and schools.

  6. Good union jobs for Ohio workers

    Our position: the people who build, run and maintain these facilities should be union workers, paid good wages, and hired and trained in Ohio.

    The rest of our position

    Our position, continued: Job promises made to win tax breaks should be written down, reported publicly and enforced.

  7. Tell neighbors the truth, and listen to them

    Our position: residents should know who each project is for, what it will emit and what it will draw, before decisions are made.

    The rest of our position

    Our position, continued: Emissions monitoring data should be public. Hearings should be held when working families can attend.

What you can do

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Sources

  1. U.S. EPA, "Prevention of Significant Deterioration Basic Information," accessed Nov. 5, 2026. epa.gov
  2. 40 CFR 49.167, definition of "synthetic minor source." law.cornell.edu
  3. OPSB Staff, "Staff Report of Investigation," case 26-0361-EL-BGN (PowerConneX New Albany 3), Oct. 16, 2026, pp. 26–27 (air permit classification); equipment, farmland and wetland figures in the same report. PUCO docket
  4. U.S. EPA, "Air Plan Approval; Ohio; Ohio Less Than 10 TPY BAT Exemption," 84 Fed. Reg. 14874, Apr. 12, 2019, describing Ohio Adm. Code 3745-31-05 and 2006 Senate Bill 265. govinfo.gov
  5. See The seven gas plants for each plant's equipment list from its state filings.
  6. Google, 2026 Environmental Report, p. 97. sustainability.google (PDF)
  7. Monitoring Analytics (PJM independent market monitor), "Analysis of the 2028/2029 RPM Base Residual Auction, Part A," Oct. 30, 2026. monitoringanalytics.com (PDF)
  8. See Water, grid & bills for how PJM's capacity auction reaches household bills, with its sources.