By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Local residents are having a tough time believing promises that the plant being built to power the data center in Middleton Township will not violate air pollution standards. And if it does, they lack trust that regulatory measures will protect the neighbors.
The citizens are tired of surprises. First, feeling left out of the planning process only to find out a massive data center would be their neighbor. And second, being caught unawares in February by the Ohio Power Siting Board approving plans for a plant to power the data center without any public input.
So on Wednesday evening, local residents pleaded with the EPA to listen to their concerns about the harmful emissions the power plant will put in the air. They asked for an air monitoring station near the power plant, since the only monitor in Wood County sits in Bowling Green, seven miles south of the project.
And they asked that the emissions from the data center next door be taken into consideration to gauge the cumulative effect of pollutants from both sites.
During the public hearing on the draft air permit-to-install for the Apollo plant being built by Will-Power, 58 people gathered to hear information from the EPA and testify about their concerns.
Of the 11 who went on record, two supported the power plant proposal – a representative of Local 18 operating engineers union, and a representative of a natural gas association. Both talked about the creation of jobs, tax revenue, and investment in Ohio.
The others, local residents, spoke of health concerns, their distrust in the regulatory system, and of the Ohio EPA power being crippled by the federal government.
During an informational portion of Wednesday’s meeting, EPA officials shared some details about the proposed power plant. For example, the Apollo project will house internal combustion engines and turbines to provide power, including:
- Six natural gas fired reciprocating internal combustion engine generators.
- 21 natural gas fired turbine generators.
- Two diesel fired emergency engines.
- 22 line heaters designed to heat gas flowing through the pipelines.
The EPA compared the projected emission levels for the power plant to a medium to large glass plant or can manufacturer. The power plant will be permitted to release the following emissions:
- Carbon monoxide: 234.62 tons per year.
- Nitrogen oxides: 192.09 tons per year.
- Particulate matter less than 10/2.5 microns: 139.72 tons per year.
- Volatile organic compounds: 140.57 tons per year.
- Sulfur dioxide: 197.71 tons per year.
- Hazardous air pollutants: 24.4 tons per year.
The emission rates for the equipment being used at the power plant are guaranteed by the manufacturers, according to Clint Reed, EPA environmental specialist.
Carbon dioxide (greenhouse gases) will not be measured at the site since the level being emitted is not expected to meet the threshold of concern.
This led a person in the audience to ask, “if you’re not checking CO2, how do we know it’s not unsafe?”
“We have no way of knowing how this will impact us,” said Debbie Dalke, of Bowling Green.
During the public testimony, Mary Corder asked the EPA officials to remember their role as protector of the public.
“We have forgotten about the citizens living in Middleton Township and Wood County,” she said, pushing for ongoing air monitoring. “If anything bad happens, we’re not going to find out about it for five, 10, 15 years later.
Though Corder said the power plant approval is inevitable, she asked the EPA to do its job.
“I understand this will happen, but I would hope you will protect me and my family,” she said.
Some were critical of the review process. Joe DeMare, of Bowling Green, said more time is needed for public comments. He testified that when the official notice online for the draft permit was clicked upon, it led viewers to unrelated information.
DeMare also said the EPA is required to take into account alternative power sources that are better environmentally and economically. Gas turbine technology has been surpassed by enhanced geothermal as the best technology, he said.
If other alternatives have not been considered, “the Ohio EPA failed to enforce their own rules,” DeMare said.
Leatra Harper, of Bowling Green, said since the power project was fast tracked by the Ohio Power Siting Board, the public has not had adequate time to comment.
Harper said she understood the Ohio EPA has been “shackled by the Trump administration,” but citizens deserve to have carbon emissions tested, constant monitoring of the power plant and the data center emissions since the Meta site will have its own diesel generators.
Steven Jansto, of Bowling Green, noted that the draft permit said the power plant will have 40 start ups and shut downs a year – which will create a lot of pollutants.
“The industry has to be held accountable,” he said, expressing concern that the power plant will be able to “hide spikes by averaging the numbers.”
Ruth Walker, of Bowling Green, was also critical of the public input process.
“It seems like the rules are made expressly so the public doesn’t have a say,” she said.
Katie McKibben, of rural Bowling Green, acknowledged the difficult position of the Ohio EPA, being “influenced by the changing administration.” But even as a retired EPA employee, she said the permit paperwork was “very confusing,” with it appearing the power plant project will exceed some of the emission limits.
Leslie Harper, of Whitehouse, said the EPA should not trust the manufacturer specifications for emissions, but should instead do actual emissions testing, measuring the cumulative impact from the power plant and the data center.
Lauren Berlekamp, of Perrysburg, suggested independent environmental assessments be performed.
And Rick Reichow, of Bowling Green, said sites like the data center and neighboring power plant have been shown to increase the air temperatures nearby as much as 3.6 degrees.
“At this point, I know we can’t stop it,” he said. “But the community needs to be respected.”
He questioned if rooftop solar had been considered for the site.
In February, with no public hearings held, the Ohio Power Siting Board approved the construction of the 350 megawatt natural gas fired electric generation facility next to the Meta data center.
The Apollo Power Generation Facility, will operate “behind-the-meter” to serve just the electric demands of the adjacent data center and will not be physically connected to the electric power grid.
Matt Butler, the public information officer for the Ohio Power Siting Board, said the permit process went through the PUCO’s “expedited review process” intended for power plants dedicated to a single customer and sited on industrial property.
Will-Power will construct and operate the power plant on 147 acres in the northeast corner of the intersection of Ohio 582 and Mercer Road in Middleton Township.
According to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the plant must adhere to 34 conditions designed to minimize potential impacts during the construction and operation of the facility. Those conditions can be found at the end of this document: https://dis.puc.state.oh.us/ViewImage.aspx?CMID=A1001001A26A27B43504C03322
The project was filed with the Ohio Power Siting Board on Nov. 5, 2025, under the accelerated “letter of notification” review process. It was scheduled to be automatically approved on Feb. 3 if no board member requested further review or raised concerns. Butler said no concerns were expressed by the board.
On Jan. 30, Will-Power notified the Ohio Power Siting Board that construction activities on the Apollo Generation Facility would start on or about Feb. 9.
A portion of the generating capacity is expected to be operational by mid-2027, then working at full capacity by late 2027.
The proposed facility will have natural gas-fired electric generation equipment capable of 350 MW of net output. The proposed facility is designed as a series of combustion turbine generator sets, reciprocating engines coupled to electric generators, and battery energy containers.
Natural gas supply for the facility would come from two 16-inch diameter gas pipelines.
According to Butler, the project qualified for the accelerated process because it will serve a specific customer and provides for the construction of an electric generation facility designed for, or capable of, operation at a capacity of 50 megawatts or more, that uses natural gas and is primarily within the current boundary of an existing industrial facility.
The proposed project would be classified as a major emission source under the Ohio EPA Title V Operating Permit program. The public comment period on the project’s air permit ends April 15. Comments can be sent to: https://ohioepa.commentinput.com or mailed to Ohio EPA DAPC, attn. Clint Reed, 347 N. Dunbridge Road, Bowling Green, OH 43402.
