(Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection - Letter to the Editor)

I was chatting with a friend whose relative in the Waterford area has sold their land to help enable a data center to be built. The hoarders of internet information have finally found us.

I understand why people sell out. I mean they can set themselves up financially for the rest of their lives. Not to mention their kids and grandkids. This letter is not directed at them. I do hope they understand the negative effects a data center will have on their community. In my opinion, if this data complex is constructed, Waterford as we all know it will cease to exist.

Washington County has already sold its soul to the oil industry with injection wells. Let us not comprehensively trash what is left of the local environment with a data center.

A data center requires a massive amount of energy to power all the systems and servers within it. They will no doubt have to build a power station to feed it energy, otherwise the local grid will be overwhelmed and electric costs will skyrocket for everyone.

Data centers require millions of gallons of water to cool their equipment. Water that may come from the Muskingum River. A unique river ecosystem with endangered mussels. The river will never be the same.

Data centers require vast amounts of land. Land that will be taken out of agricultural production, fundamentally altering the farming heritage of the area.

If constructed, residents living close to this complex will no doubt endure significant noise and air pollution, especially when the data center fires up the backup diesel generators.

It seems other communities regret the decision to build these data centers in their area. But money talks and the remaining residents are left to deal with the consequences or just simply move somewhere else, if they can.

Our public officials who have knowledge of this need to be transparent and up front with the general public as to what is actually going on. Do not accept their excuse of remaining silent because they have signed a NDA (non-disclosure agreement). Ohio Sunshine laws require them to inform the public of details. NDAs do not trump the law.

The Waterford/Watertown area is a special farming community. Just take a drive around it sometime. People take pride in their farms and homes. They have an identity all their own, separate from any other community in Washington County. And they are proud of it. Let us not lose that to a data center.

Roger Hendershot

Belpre