PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — A proposed $1 billion data center in Scioto County is drawing sharp reactions from residents after county commissioners announced they are considering a 15‑year, 75% tax abatement to support the project.
The Scioto County Commissioners disclosed the proposal on Wednesday in a public notice sent to the Green Local School District and the Scioto County Joint Vocational School. The plan includes a 500,000‑square‑foot data center and a payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes agreement that would provide the county with a base annual payment of $500,000, along with additional compensation tied to the total square footage built.
In a statement posted to social media, commissioners said they had also secured “a good faith commitment to work with the local workforce and trade unions during the construction phase of the project,” adding that keeping jobs local was a priority in negotiations.
The board said it will release more details at its next meeting and invited public comment at sessions scheduled for Jan. 8, 15, and 22. A vote on the abatement is expected Jan. 22.
Green Local School District officials issued a separate statement expressing optimism about the project’s potential economic impact.
“Green Local School District is excited about the potential economic growth and opportunities this proposed $1 billion data center project could bring to Scioto County,” the district said. The statement praised the commissioners’ emphasis on local labor and said the district would continue evaluating how the development might affect school funding and the tax base.
But many residents have voiced strong opposition, raising concerns about the size of the tax break, the long‑term impact on public revenue, and the lack of publicly available information about the company behind the project. Some have questioned whether the county can absorb the infrastructure demands of a large‑scale data center.
Commissioners said they plan to address questions and concerns as the review process continues.