Pierce Township Residents Oppose Potential Data Center Development
Pierce Township residents protested potential data center developments at a zoning meeting while officials pledged transparency during a moratorium on new applications.
More than 100 residents of Pierce Township and Clermont County attended a zoning meeting on October 6, 2026, to oppose the potential development of data centers in their community. Residents expressed concerns over noise pollution, energy consumption, and environmental impacts, specifically highlighting proposed sites near Ten Mile Road, U.S. 52, and the former Beckjord Power Station.
Allen Freeman, chair of the Pierce Township Zoning Board, stated that no formal applications have been submitted yet, though San Francisco-based Crane Data Centers Inc. approached the township last month to inquire about available land. A moratorium on data center development remains in effect until May 31, 2027, to allow the board to establish formal regulations and restrictions.
Freeman pledged that the process would remain open and transparent. He committed that the township would not enter into nondisclosure agreements with any data center companies, ensuring that information regarding potential developments remains available to the public.
