Let’s Stop the Data Center Proposed for the Big Darby Creek Area

With a Here’s How You Can Help List Toward the End

The Big Darby Creek, the cleanest river in Ohio and a state and national treasure

People are resisting data centers all over our state and country and we certainly have more than our share already in the Central Ohio area. And, when one of these centers is proposed in your area it gets personal. It’s personal for me.

If you have been reading my work for a while, you know I live on a farm that my husband Kevin and I have been actively re-wilding with native plants, shrubs, and lots of trees—so many trees. We have put in between 7-10 large areas of prairie (when I say we, I really mean Kevin) and have removed lots of invasive plants as well. In 2020 we purchased the 100 acre farm next to us and after much research, facilitated the construction of a wetland which just began its third year this spring. The biodiversity that is already present is honestly astounding given the fact that the land had been an industrial farm for over 100 years and was plowed and poisoned at least once a year. This past spring we had hundreds, maybe thousands, of migrating water fowl, including ducks of all kinds, many rare in this area. There were three types of sandpipers who came through. Sandpipers! There are at least 3 endangered species of birds nesting on the land with many more that are in the “almost endangered” list. Because there is water and a wide variety of native plants in the wetland, there are many amphibians, and insects galore. Interestingly, we don’t see many mosquitos as there are so many predators for them, but there are huge numbers of dragonflies, damselflies, lightening bugs and an exciting variety of butterflies and moths, along with other insects that help feed the birds, their babies, and other creatures.

Birding at the wetland on Mother’s Day with one of my sons

In early April, as we were joyfully adding many new species of birds to our ever growing list of what lives here or flies through, we learned that a company that builds data centers had bought land adjacent to the wetland. Our hearts sank and then sank some more as we learned what so many of you are also learning these days: that data centers add tremendous amounts of air, noise, water and light pollution to our environment. And in that location, there is a tributary of the Big Darby Creek and runoff could harm the number one river in Ohio with the greatest biodiversity—by far. That’s right, in our backyards, is the number one river for cleanliness and diversity in the entire state. One of the reasons we moved out here is because of the Big Darby and the beautiful Metro Parks along it. And our area has a great deal of land that has been conserved as natural areas for ever, including 1300 acres within one mile of the proposed data center, with about ten thousand more acres when you include the parks.

There is so much more I could say here, about greed, about our society’s lack of respect for nature, our hunger always for more more more. I have written elsewhere about the absolute beauty and awe of what can happen when we give Life a chance. One small example: Even as numbers of birds decline nationally, we have seen our overall numbers and diversity double in the last 5 years here on this land as we have added what they need. Nature is ready and willing to heal the land if given half a chance.

But there are steps to take, and I want to give you a list of actions and ways to stay informed. Do what you can and what you feel called to. And please share this far and wide.

Because this proposed data center is in the Darby Creek Accord area, and the Darby Accord was created to protect the Big Darby from over-development, we are somewhat hopeful AND not taking anything for granted. And because the Darby Accord is an agreement between multiple cities and counties, there are lots of ways to affect what happens here. As I have been trying to find the best levers to push for what I want, it has not been entirely clear despite dozens of calls and meetings with people who each have some piece of the puzzle. And the truth is, data centers started becoming a problem so recently that no one really knows much, and definitely there are not great (or many) regulations that are relevant to the huge impact they are having. I’ll offer lots of options and depending on where you live, please make calls or show up if you can.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Did you know that action reduces anxiety and hopelessness

Come to a meeting on Thursday, June 25, 6:00 to 8:00p at the Prairie Township Community Center, 5955 W. Broad St. If you love the Darby Creek please show up and show your concern. Even if you are not from Prairie Township, we are hoping to make it clear to our township trustees that this area is of value to our entire central Ohio community and beyond. Our trustees have put in place a 6 month moratorium, but what comes next is uncertain. Also, there are ways around that moratorium which is why I have multiple things for you to do.

Call these people on Columbus City Council:

Shannon Hardin:

Jessica Clinger
Legislative Aide
(614) 645-6354
jnclinger@columbus.gov

Linda Capobianco
Legislative Assistant
(614) 645-2726
lmcapobianco@columbus.gov

Nancy Day-Achauer She is the council member in charge of the Darby Accord

Jacob Dilley
Legislative Aide
(614)-645-5292
jadilley@columbus.gov

Marwah Warsame
Legislative Analyst
(614) 724-1260
mawarsame@columbus.gov

Tiara Ross

Mercedes Wiley
Legislative Aide
(614) 645-6546
mdwiley@columbus.gov

Ciera Adams
Legislative Analyst
(614) 645-3773
csadams@columbus.gov

Melissa Green

Haley Gerken
Legislative Aide
(614) 645-0076
hegerken@columbus.gov

John Drury
Legislative Analyst
(614) 645-1319
jadrury@columbus.gov

One possible script: Tell them you vote in Columbus (if you do) and that you are concerned about the data center proposed for the Darby Accord area. You do not want that land annexed to Columbus and do not want the data center built. You are concerned about water pollution and the quality of the Hamilton Run Creek and any runoff that would go to the Big Darby. You are concerned about the wildlife that is already in this area with hundreds of acres of already conserved land with huge amounts of biodiversity. You are concerned about the air, noise, and light pollution which has been shown to have harmful effects in the communities where they have already been built. Let them know that you know that the Big Darby Creek is one of the most beautiful things about Central Ohio and that we would like them to protect it like the crown jewel that it is.

If you are not used to making calls, be brave. I was nervous at first but now find it exciting. Plan out what you want to say and start by calling when you are likely to get voice mail so you can practice. Now I like to call when I know someone is there so I can make my priorities expensive for their time and make all my points and ask where they stand. They almost never say but I like to ask anyway. The more of us who call, the more they have to do something to make it stop—remember they face us at the polls.

Oh Lordy, you are registered to vote aren’t you? If not go here: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/register-to-vote You must be registered 30 days before an election. DO IT NOW!

Follow The Darby Creek Association on Facebook for important news and announcements: https://www.facebook.com/darbycreekassociation

Call Prairie Township Trustees

• Cathy Schmelzer, Trustee
  614-679-9485

• Rod Pritchard, Trustee
  614-216-3386

• Doug Stormont, Trustee
  614-209-9122

Call your Ohio representative. If you don’t already have them in your contacts (I know you do, don’t you?) find them here.

https://ohiohouse.gov/

When I am calling my rep I always say I live in their district and that I am a voter.

Call your state senator. https://www.ohiosenate.gov/members/district-map When I am calling my senator I always say I live in their district and that I am a voter.

Say something similar to the script above. You can also include that you want them to pass legislation that prevents NDAs and creates protections for people in the communities where they want to build. We also want the centers that are built to be powered by solar and other renewable energies. And no more tax incentives or credits for these companies who are some of the richest in the world. Also, once these centers are built there are almost no jobs.

Call your US representative. Find them here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Call your US senators:

Bernie Moreno: 202-224-2315

Jon Husted: 202-224-3353

Again, since there are few meaningful laws ask them to pass meaningful legislation like what is outlined above.

Links to important groups in Ohio doing good work around data centers

Save Ohio Parks Much of the fracking that is currently or about to happen in our parks is to get more natural gas to fuel energy-hungry data centers. We are the only state in the country that fracks in our state parks! Their blog gives lots of important details and the website is full of important information and suggestions of ways you can help.

Ohio Environmental Council: The OEC has really stepped up to the data center issue and is working on multiple fronts to support the environmental protections we will need to survive.

Conserve Ohio This is the group collecting signatures to ban largescale data centers in Oho. I am collecting signatures—we’re now looking to be on the ballot in 2027.

Policy Matters Ohio And yet another group that has turned a lot of their attention to data centers. They have big area on the website about data centers.

Here are a few videos that give you an idea of what people are living next to, because yes, many of these are built right next to neighborhoods and schools:

The sound of a data center

This is what it is like to live 400 yards from Mark Zuckerberg’s data center:

And finally, one of the ways I am able to sleep and find joy in the midst of all this is by doing the activism I see in front of me and including beautiful walks so I steep in the awe of what the parts of the world already are. I have practices of Yoga and Reiki that connect me to everything everywhere and that helps too. I know I am not alone in this work and invite you to join. You will be glad that you are doing something to keep creating the world we want to live in. It’s not enough to know what you are against, though that is important. But the real changes come as you visualize what you want!

Blessings to you all and hope to see you on Thursday.