Bitdeer's Ohio AI Data Center Plan Sparks Local Scrutiny Over Environmental Impact

Bitdeer, a Singapore-based bitcoin mining and AI infrastructure company, is planning to build a large artificial intelligence data center campus in northeast Ohio. The proposed project would start with two data halls and a 51,500-square-foot office building on about 257 acres at the Turnpike Commerce Center in Shalersville Township, Portage County. According to local reporting by News 5 Cleveland, the second phase would add 12 more data halls, bringing the campus to a potential total power capacity of 750 megawatts if fully built out.

The project has drawn scrutiny from local residents, who have raised concerns about electricity consumption, water use, noise, fire risk, and broader environmental impact. At a public meeting on June 16, Bitdeer senior project manager Paul Hanson told attendees that the site was attractive because of its size, industrial setting, proximity to transportation infrastructure, and access to long-term power.

Bitdeer has framed the project as an economic development opportunity, stating that it could create about 400 local construction jobs over five years and 150 to 200 permanent jobs once fully built out. The companies also claim that Phase 1 would generate about $2.17 million in annual real estate tax revenue.