Display boards show information about Microsoft’s proposed data center in Perry Township during a meeting THursday night.
Jacob Espinosa | The Lima News
PERRY TOWNSHIP — Steve Bennington came out of Thursday night’s open house feeling better about the proposed Microsoft data center along state Route 65 between Breese and Hume Roads in Perry Township.
An estimated 100 residents showed up to Perry Elementary School to talk with Microsoft representatives and other economic development professionals to take in information about the project to put multiple warehouses filled with computers to serve the need for more storage as technology grows.
“We had heard a lot of rumors about a tremendous amount of water usage, but it is going to be more of a closed cooling system that will keep recycling and cooling,” Bennington said after talking with Microsoft representatives, who were not allowed to talk to the press. “And then there is a high tension line that goes right through the project, so American Electric Power said it would be no problem and the center would have its own huge substation.”
John Recker, a customer and external affairs manager for AEP, said he came to the open house as a representative of the company to answer questions from residents and assured them AEP has analyzed and addressed the potential data center.
“We understand resident concerns, but we have a number of data center customers across the state of Ohio, and they’ve proven to be good customers and good stakeholders in the community,” he said. “And we believe this one will be as well.”
Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith was optimistic about the project’s potential to bring jobs and economic growth to the area.
“We’re excited to get to this moment to be able to unveil it to the public and give opportunities to residents of the township and county, as well as to get them to talk directly with Microsoft to get their questions answered,” Smith said. “I think the data center represents an opportunity to diversify our local economy and show that Lima, the county and region can sustain new development.”
Resident Scott Hofacker called the project a potential hidden gem that could bring economic benefits to the schools, community and existing population.
“We’re trying to get people to be more progressive about bringing in good economic development, so we’re excited about Microsoft being here,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of things around here that aren’t as good for us, and we seem to attract them, but this is, by far, one of the best things I’ve ever seen come into the township.”
In an Allen County Commissioners meeting Thursday morning (bit.ly/3XixJYa), Microsoft representatives stressed the importance of being a good community partner and said the township is taking the right steps as officials approved a measure to allow facilities like the data center.
Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.
