In reviewing the publicly available information in an attempt to understand how a huge data center could be planned and approved, given substantial tax breaks, with a huge swath of land sold with development begun without the knowledge of most area residents. It does not take long before it becomes obvious the lengths it took to ensure our local elected and economic development officials kept it a secret, leaving the public in the dark until it was too late. No townhalls, no permit hearings, no opportunity to ask questions or have them answered. Even the name and purpose of the project was withheld with the shell LLC, Liames, secret project name, Accordion, and numerous non-disclosure agreements signed. Now the pattern of secrecy is obvious and continues with yet another project, “Apollo” being fast-tracked by the “Will-Power LLC” a subsidiary of Williams Company, the builder of the Nexus fracked gas pipeline. The informative, well-researched article published by BG Independent News 9/14/25 did not mention the huge 350 MW gas fired power plant that was being planned at the time because – well – who knew? In fact, when Will-Power proposed the 350 MW Title V air polluter to the Ohio Power Siting Board with a Letter of Notification just three months ago, even that letter kept Meta a secret. That letter initiated the fast-track process with the Ohio Power Siting Board which apparently plans to approve the facility the first part of February.
Local residents who are concerned about the region’s air quality need to speak out now before the massive polluter is permitted if we do not want more asthma and ozone action days – not to mention the climate impacts of greenhouse gas emissions (it is reported that Apollo is seeking approval to emit 2,475,581 tons of CO2 yearly – this does not count the emissions from the additional upstream industries like fracking that would feed the power plant or the diesel powered generators also planned).
We are waiting for a copy of the air permit to review. We called the Ohio EPA because even that appears not to be publicly available. Could the OPSB fast-track the approval of Apollo before local residents receive a copy of the air pollution permit and have a chance to comment? How could the OPSB approve the siting of this Title V project without looking at cumulative impacts that would include not only the data center itself, but the diesel generators and the two 16″ pipelines that are also planned – and who knows what else that is still not disclosed?
To add insult to injury – no public input for the 75% tax abatement for Meta for 15 years! And Apollo likely will get Ohio sales tax breaks as a new power plant for a data center as well!
In Hamilton, Ohio, there is much more transparency, and a proposed data center project has even been paused for additional public information. Wood County residents did not receive that courtesy. It stands to reason that if the deals being made would be acceptable to the local community, such secrecy would not be needed. Now as more people are becoming aware, it is obvious that important information was kept from us. Even though the Apollo project is being fast-tracked, there is still time to register comments to the Ohio Power Siting Board by calling 866-270-6772 or by emailing ContactOPSB@puco.ohio.gov. Our elected “representatives” need to hear from us – they seem to forget that they are paid with our taxes, and they are supposed to represent us and not be seduced by the “ribbon cutting syndrome” at the expense of their constituents.
Lea (Leatra) Harper
Bowling Green
Managing Director
FreshWater Accountability Project
