Residents urge Waterville council to oppose potential nearby power plant and data-center plans

Two residents used the council meeting's public-comment period to urge officials to investigate possible plans for a gas-fired power plant and associated compressor station that they say could accompany a proposed data center in the region.

Leotra (Leah) Harper told the council that the Apollo gas plant outside Bowling Green had been permitted to emit "two and a half million tons of greenhouse gases a year," along with "141 tons a year" of volatile organic compounds and "192 tons" of nitrogen oxides, and warned that such emissions could worsen an existing ozone compliance problem in Lucas County. "If you think a data center is bad, and I wonder if you do realize how bad it would be, you have not seen anything yet," Harper said, urging council members to join citizens in contacting the Ohio Power Siting Board.

Leslie Harper said she obtained a record from Lucas County Economic Development titled "City of Waterville Southwest Development Area" that included handwritten notes and a label she read as "CI - power plant." She asked the council to check with the Port Authority, which owns the parcels now being annexed, about possible end-use plans. Administrator John responded that the document appeared older and that the Port Authority has not explained end users; he recommended contacting the Port Authority for clarification.

Council response and next steps: Council members and staff said they would follow up. Several members advised the residents to contact the Port Authority directly; staff acknowledged the map referenced may be dated and advised that the Port Authority owns the property and is marketing parcels. No formal action or vote was taken; residents said they would call council members individually and urged collective letters to the Ohio Power Siting Board.

Context and claims: Residents cited specific emissions figures and a records request document; those claims were presented as part of public comment and not corroborated within the meeting. The council did not confirm the presence of an active permit for a local power plant during the meeting.