Data Center FAQs

The project site was chosen by AWS because of its proximity to the City of Wilmington’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, making it financially viable for AWS to undertake the necessary water and sewer infrastructure improvements.

The 471-acre parcel is large enough to accommodate both the project and significant buffer areas.

The sale of this land for the project was a private transaction between a private landowner and AWS. The transaction and sale were not guided by the Clinton County Port Authority, the City of Wilmington, nor any other public entities.

(Posted December 2, 2025)

Economic development usually starts well before anything is announced to the public. Site visits, property reviews, utility studies, and early talks about incentives can take place months or even years before a project is ready for a public vote.

As public interest in development investments grows, people may ask why some details are not shared right away. The reason is straightforward: Keeping information confidential helps protect jobs, attract investment, and maintain Clinton County’s good reputation with businesses so that our community can grow.

The Clinton County Port Authority does not withhold information to avoid public input. In many cases, we are legally required to limit what can be shared because private companies require confidentiality during early discussions. This practice is standard across economic development and business in general, and is expected by site selectors and corporate decision-makers.

Confidentiality Supports Competitive Site Selection

When companies look for new locations, they often compare many communities at once. Sharing information too early can create risks that affect the cost, timing, or even the possibility of a project. For example, land prices might go up if a site is made public, other regions might change their offers, and company plans could change if employees or investors find out details too soon.

Because of these risks, companies usually ask for confidentiality during the first stages of review. If a community cannot keep things private, it is often taken off the list. Site selectors (people who help companies choose sites) pay close attention to this. 

Keeping things confidential helps Clinton County stay competitive in the early stages. It makes sure negotiations are fair, protects the local market, and lets projects move forward until they are ready for a public review that really matters.

Non-Disclosure Agreements Set Clear Boundaries

Non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs, are commonly used in economic development. They spell out what information needs to stay private and for how long. NDAs often cover things like company names, site locations, investment amounts, and job estimates.

The Port Authority can sign an NDA to meet legal obligations and professional standards. These agreements do not prevent public oversight of incentives, zoning, or infrastructure decisions. They delay disclosure until a company has finalized its plans and is prepared to proceed publicly.

When a project gets to that point, the details are shared in public meetings, formal approvals, and open records. This timing helps protect both the company and the community.

Confidentiality Breaches Damage Long-Term Opportunity

If confidentiality is broken, it can cause projects to be canceled, jobs to be lost, and less interest in the future. It shows that a community may not be able to handle sensitive information. For Clinton County, this risk affects every future chance, not just one project.

Protecting confidentiality is not about hiding important information from the community. It is about helping Clinton County compete for investment, manage growth responsibly, and attract projects that offer long-term value.

(Posted January 30, 2026)

All Wilmington City Council legislative packets can be found online here: 2025 City Council Meeting Packets. 

The CRA Agreement and Compensation Agreement (O-25-73) was first introduced at the November 20, 2025, Wilmington City Council meeting, and can be found here: Regular Council 11-20-2025. Look for the following documents:

• O-25-73 CRA Agreement & Compensation Agreement
• O-25-73 Exhibit A - CRA Agreement
• O-25-73 Exhibit B - School Compensation Agreement

(Posted December 12, 2025)

This project will utilize Direct Evaporative Cooling.

(Posted December 4, 2025)

Per the lighting standards as laid out in the Wilmington Code of Ordinances, the maximum illumination at the property line, when the receiving property is of residential use, is 0.5 foot-candles. (https://library.municode.com/oh/wilmington/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_PT11PLZOCO_TITELEVENSIDEPR_CH1167LI_S1167.05LIST)

As of January 27, 2026, the Port Authority has no photometric plan to demonstrate what the foot-candle illumination measurement will be at the project property lines, but the project will comply with the City of Wilmington's requirements.

(Updated January 28, 2026)

The project has implemented a comprehensive Acoustic Program that demonstrates AWS's commitment to being a responsible community partner. This program integrates sophisticated sound mitigation strategies throughout the entire facility lifecycle - from initial site planning and due diligence, through building-specific design considerations, to ongoing operational oversight. To ensure excellence in sound management, AWS assembled a specialized team of 15 acoustic engineers who apply their expertise to every aspect of AWS data center developments. This proactive approach reflects AWS's dedication to minimizing sound impacts on neighboring communities.

This project site will have a nighttime limit of 55dBA and will comply with those limits.

In addition to complying with local regulations, several noise mitigation measures will be utilized, including sound-dampening building materials and insulation, strategic placement of cooling equipment, and generators which utilize acoustical enclosures and mufflers.

(Posted December 4, 2025)

Electric rates are complex but can be broken down into three components: generation (producing electricity), transmission (moving it over long distances), and distribution (delivering it to homes and businesses).

Data center projects present a unique opportunity, allowing AES Ohio to invest in the grid without creating upward pressure on distribution rates, which is the part of the bill directly controlled by AES Ohio. In every case reviewed by AES Ohio in its service territory, data centers will have a favorable impact on the transmission portion of the AES Ohio bill. This does not address the generation portion of the bill. For more information, you can contact AES Ohio.

AWS will pay 100% of the cost of service to the project site and 100% of the cost of the electricity used at the project site. AES Ohio confirms adequate capacity to serve AWS.

Additionally, Ohio is part of PJM, a 13-state electric grid. Electric rates in PJM have increased across the grid due to increasing demand for electricity across a region, which includes not only Ohio but also all or part of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

It is important to remember that we, as well as all other communities within the 13-state PJM electric grid, have been paying, and likely will continue to pay, increasing electric rates, at least until new generation comes online.

To put it simply, residents in Wilmington do not pay more or less for electricity based upon what happens in Wilmington. Our rates are determined by what happens across the relevant service territory. The costs are distributed, but the benefits are concentrated in a handful of communities where projects like this are located.

(Posted December 2, 2025)

Wilmington City Schools will receive $1 million in new annual revenue, structured so that the revenue will not negatively impact the district’s State Aid. This funding is critical for the district, which has struggled to pass levies to support current operations, such as student transportation, and ongoing permanent improvements.

Additionally, this project will establish a partnership between AWS, Wilmington City Schools, and area workforce leaders for the development of STEM education and workforce development programming.

(Posted December 2, 2025)

The City of Wilmington will receive:

• An upfront and unrestricted payment of $1.5 million. The use of these funds will be decided by the City of Wilmington. (An additional payment of $350,000 will be paid to the Port Authority. These funds will be used to cover staff costs and legal fees associated with the project.)
• Over $1 million in new annual tax revenues through a combination of PILOTs (Payments in Lieu of Taxes) and municipal income taxes.
• New public infrastructure with an estimated value of at least $25 million, at no expense to the City. This infrastructure will include:
  • Replacement and upsizing of a failing water main along State Route 730 and extension of the new water main along the northern property boundary of the project site to US 68, providing redundancy and pressure throughout the system.
  • Construction of a new sewer trunk line from the Wastewater Treatment Plant to the far side of the project site, providing significant excess capacity that will allow for new development opportunities beyond the project site.
  • Construction of a new 1-million-gallon water tower, which, combined with the new water main, will ensure adequate water pressure to all nearby water customers.
  • Donation of Right-of-Way for the potential future development of a road that would connect State Route 730 to Ahresty Road, as proposed in the City of Wilmington’s Comprehensive Plan.

The City of Wilmington’s population is projected to decline, raising concerns about declining tax revenues. The infrastructure improvements and funds generated by this project are necessary to ensure that the City of Wilmington can continue to provide services to its residents.

(Updated January 28, 2026)

Amazon Web Services (AWS), a global leader in cloud and artificial intelligence computing with an extensive infrastructure footprint in Ohio, is proposing to develop a hyperscale data center campus in Wilmington, Ohio. The campus will consist of multiple buildings with state-of-the-art cooling and power infrastructure, providing high connectivity to the AWS global network.

(Posted November 21, 2025)

These are two examples of AWS data centers already operating in the region:

• 6299 Houchard Road, Dublin, OH  43016
• 4612 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH  43026

(Posted November 26, 2025)

• The State of Ohio provides Data Center Tax Credits which provide a sales- and use-tax exemption on eligible data center equipment and related purchases if the project meets certain thresholds (e.g. at least $100 million capital investment and at least $1.5 million annual payroll). The State of Ohio, via the Ohio Department of Development, has already awarded this incentive to the Project. No local government in Clinton County had any control over this incentive.
• Community Reinvestment Area (CRA): Local governments in Ohio can designate an area, approve projects, and give tax exemptions on property improvements for a defined period if the developer meets job, payroll, and investment thresholds as well as other negotiated community benefits.
• Tax Increment Financing (TIF): TIFs capture the increase in property tax revenue resulting from the increase in value of a new development. The City of Wilmington intends to establish a TIF for this project to capture that revenue, none of which will go to benefit AWS or the project. Rather, the funds will be used to pay for public infrastructure improvements without the need to raise taxes on existing residents or businesses.

(Posted November 21, 2025)

AWS data centers discharge water that meets all local water and sewer requirements. 

During the water treatment process, the pH of stored water is adjusted to a more neutral pH to better function with operations, using the process that a water utility would for water they send to consumers. 

To prevent bacterial growth in water storage tanks, minimum chlorine levels are maintained - similar to those in public water systems - by generating chlorine on-site from salt and electricity as needed, rather than storing chlorine directly. Chlorine is only replenished to maintain what is lost during storage.

(Updated December 4, 2025)

The City of Wilmington closely monitors its water supply and treatment capacity to ensure it can continue to serve its existing residents and businesses while supporting future growth. The City will not commit to providing water that would threaten existing residents and business or future growth opportunities. In addition, the City will be the only source of water and the project will not involve any on-site wells.

Water Sources

The City of Wilmington holds a long-term purchase contract with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for water from Caesar Creek Reservoir. It has historically been unable to sell all of the contracted water, meaning that the City has been paying for water it has not used. The water used by this project will help the City meet its purchase contract.

Caesar Creek Reservoir has an estimated 27 to 35 million gallons of excess water capacity. The City of Wilmington is the only entity drawing from that source. The City of Wilmington also has its own reservoirs supplying additional and redundant water. The City pays for 7 million gallons of water from Caesar Creek Reservoir per day but has never – even at its peak – used half of that allotment.

Water Treatment

In addition, the City’s Water Treatment Plant has more than enough existing capacity to bring this project on as a customer. The current plant is permitted for up to 4 million-gallons-per-day and the City, on average, produces 2.2 to 2.8 million-gallons-per-day.

At full build-out, this project will not be the largest water user in the City. It will not drain our community’s water resources. In fact, it will pay for water already being purchased by the City, helping to defray the City’s overall water costs.

(Updated November 24, 2025)

Usually, these costs are shared by the company and the community, with the community responsible for undertaking the construction. For this project, however, all infrastructure upgrades will be paid for by AWS. No local governments or taxpayers will be paying for the $25+ million in shared public infrastructure capital expenses (roads, water & sewer, etc.). In addition, AWS is responsible for constructing the new infrastructure to the City’s specifications and to the satisfaction of the City Engineer.

(Posted November 21, 2025)

With this project, Clinton County will see the largest investment in its history, investment that will propel the local construction and skilled trades industry in locally contracted work. The project will serve as a safety net of economic activity in an uncertain time when most economists point to artificial intelligence and the build-out of data centers as a significant factor in economic productivity for Ohio and the United States, while other industries and sectors are facing weakening economic activity.

The project will result in a minimum of 100 new permanent jobs, resulting in one of the highest private total payrolls in the City, without putting additional workforce pressure on current businesses in the community.

The project will also result in over 200 construction jobs. While construction jobs are temporary, the construction period is anticipated to be 5+ years. This will result in significant indirect and induced economic benefits for area businesses such as steel and metal fabricators, trucking and excavation companies, skilled trades, and more during the construction period, with the likelihood of additional new businesses investing in Clinton County.

Employees of businesses located in the City still pay income tax, regardless of where they reside. The income tax from those jobs will benefit the residents of the City of Wilmington by increasing  the funds available for public safety, public works and infrastructure, community services and parks, administrative functions, and code enforcement, building inspections, and zoning, at no additional tax burden to Wilmington residents. 

(Updated January 28, 2026)

Yes. The project site is zoned Light Industrial, recommended by the City of Wilmington’s Planning Commission on July 1, 2025, and subsequently approved by Wilmington City Council on August 7, 2025.

In addition, an amendment to the Zoning Code adding “Use-Specific Requirements” for data centers was recommended by the City of Wilmington’s Planning Commission on June 3, 2025, and approved by Wilmington City Council on July 17, 2025. As a part of the City’s Zoning Code, the following will be required as part of any data center project:

• A formal noise study as part of the site plan approval to prove the development will comply with the City’s Noise Regulations (Section 1151.04(m)(2)).
• Visual Screening & Mitigation Requirements for all equipment necessary for cooling, ventilating, or otherwise operating the facility. This project would include an engineered berm to further address noise and aesthetic concerns.
• The project will comply with the minimum 200-foot setback from residential areas as laid out in the Code. The principal buildings, the data center shells, which are responsible for noise emissions, will be set back 500 feet.

(Updated January 28, 2026)

The project will be developed on a 471-acre parcel on the south side of the city at 1488 S US 68, Wilmington, OH 45177.

The annexation of the Project Site was approved by Wilmington City Council on August 7, 2025, after following the Type 2 Expedited Annexation Process set out in Ohio Revised Code 709.023.

(Posted November 21, 2025)