Amazon pitches 600-acre data center before Trenton vote

Amazon Web Services is proposing an 18-building data center campus on about 600 acres of farmland near Trenton, Ohio, a project local reports estimate could represent a $5 billion investment. At an Oct. 15 open house, AWS representatives discussed the proposal and answered questions about energy and water use, environmental effects, noise, jobs and construction ahead of a Nov. 3 vote on Issue 17, which would amend the city charter to prohibit data centers with monthly demand or peak load above 25 megawatts. AWS said it wanted residents to have information before voting and acknowledged concerns about the project. Some residents who attended remained opposed, citing potential impacts from power and water consumption, land use and contamination, while others said they were seeking answers about the development.