Wilmington Residents Protest Amazon's $4 Billion Data Center

Residents of Wilmington, Ohio, have organized protests through the group Wilmington Residents for Responsible Development to oppose a proposed $4 billion data center. Amazon Web Services intends to develop nearly 500 acres off US-68, while the Wilmington City Council is seeking to expand the project's footprint by an additional 545 acres.

Community members voiced concerns at a town hall meeting regarding potential health risks and ecological impacts. These tensions follow a January decision by the Wilmington Planning Commission to table the proposal after Amazon representatives failed to provide specific answers to commission questions.

Amazon spokesperson Kylee Yonas defended the company's presence in the state, citing a $19.7 billion investment in Ohio. Yonas claimed the company's water use effectiveness is three times better than the U.S. industry average. Despite the public opposition, the Wilmington City Council voted to move the development plan to a second reading.