It seems there are a lot of questions and more than a few concerns among Norton residents over a proposal to build a data center in the Summit County community.
Some 200-plus residents filled the city’s Community Center Oct. 13 to pepper officials from Quantum HPC that is proposing to build the data center − dubbed Project Triton − on a 90-acre site off South Cleveland Massillon Road.
The property was once owned by PPG Industries and was a limestone mine about 50 years ago.
The proposal that is still snaking its way through the city’s planning commision calls for the construction of a 485,000-square-foot center, along with a 157,000-square-foot power yard with six natural gas turbines at the former mine site.
Quantum CEO Dale James Hobbie said Norton was picked for the first-of-its-kind data center because the mine site is zoned industrial and has sat unused for decades, making it the perfect spot for new large construction.
The meeting lasted nearly two hours and residents questioned Hobbie over everything from noise to pollution to decreased property values the data center might create for residents who live both near and far from the old mine.
Some of Hobbie’s answers were met by jeers and a chorus of boos.
Quantum CEO explains plans for proposed data center in Norton
Hobbie told the residents that this data center would be different as it would create its own electricity onsite using a nearby existing natural gas pipeline to fuel the gas turbines. It also would have a self-contained cooling system that would use water with additives that would be trucked in to chill the racks of computers, he said.
This water is self-contained and recirculated and would not require regular refilling.
Special insulation and dampeners would be installed to reduce the hum of the computers and absorb any vibrations.
A containment system would be in place to capture emissions from the gas turbines.
He added security would be tight around the site, which would be surrounded by fencing and trees to help lessen the impact of outdoor lighting from the data center that would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The data center, which would be roughly the size of two Walmarts, would house computers to store and process information for AI and planning applications for business.
Hobbie said the potential clients would be both private and public companies and the center would not handle classified government or military data.
Most residents at the meeting were skeptical and some told Hobbie that he and his data center were not welcome in the community and should look elsewhere.
Hobbie said this could be an economic shot in the arm for the community and the region, creating roughly 280 construction jobs at the start and another 110 full-time jobs once it is up and running.
Norton Mayor Mike Zita said the city is waiting for the submission of final site plans, which could come before the end of the month.
The final plans then would be reviewed by the city’s Planning Commission before moving onto City Council for a final vote.
Norton has created a website to answer questions about the project being led by Quantum HPC.
Zita said he was not surprised by the standing-room-only crowd at the public meeting.
“Norton is a very passionate community,” he said. “We have always been very passionate.”
Norton residents share concerns about proposed data center
Norton resident Gary Bradnick said he’s not necessarily opposed to a data center being situated on the former mine site as long as assurances that it will not impact the surrounding residential neighborhoods ring true.
“I think this is one of those not in my backyard kind of things,” said Bradnick, who lives about a mile from the site.
The data center would be in the backyard of Norton resident Tom Bryant.
He is among the vocal opposition to the proposal.
Bryant said his family has lived next to the mine for about 65 years and fears the data center would negatively impact his and other properties in the area.
Opponents already have collected about 500 signatures on a petition opposing the plans and distributed another 250 yard signs in opposition.
Bryant is urging residents to voice their opinions about the data center to anyone who would listen and seek out information about the plans.
“We want residents to educate themselves,” he said.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jeers and even some boos greet developers proposing to build a data center in Norton
Reporting by Craig Webb, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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