Data center open house draws crowd

MONROEVILLE — Residents filled a meeting room Monday evening as representatives from a company proposing to build a data center in Monroeville hosted an open house to answer questions. The event at American Legion Post 547 brought together residents, company officials, engineers and other specialists to discuss the project, called Project Eagle Ridge, planned along Fort Monroe Industrial Parkway. The open house ran from 5-8 p.m. The room was crowded during portions of the evening, with residents gathering around stations where they could speak directly with Decimal Digital company representatives. Light food and beverages were provided to attendees. Rather than hosting a formal presentation, Decimal Digital arranged stations covering electricity, water use, cooling systems, noise, zoning and the project's potential economic benefits. Experts answer residents' questions Decimal Digital assembled a team of company officials, engineers, attorneys and consultants to address different aspects of the proposed development. The company's announced lineup included: • Roshan Shah, Decimal Digital co-founder and CEO, and Praveen Srikanth, chief operating officer, along with co-founder Henry Robinson, to discuss the company's plans for the project.• Tony Clark, a professional engineer with Great Oaks Co., to address electrical engineering and power infrastructure.• Manuel Alfaro and Bradley Webb, of Absolute Noise Control, to discuss sound and acoustics.• Sam Doctor, of Doctor Advisory, to address electrical engineering, semiconductors and high-performance computing.• Amy Harmon, who was included among the company's technical participants.• Max Upton, of Bricker Graydon Wyatt LLP, to discuss government affairs, economic development and incentives.• Jill Tangeman and Sean Byrne, attorneys with Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, to address zoning, permitting and economic development matters.• Aaron Pickrell, Jen Lynch, Shannon Ward and Aubrey Ward, of Remington Road Group, to assist with community relations.Residents could move between stations and direct questions to specialists in each area. Company responds to concerns Shah said he was encouraged by the conversations, including those with residents who oppose the development. In written remarks following the event, Shah thanked those who attended, regardless of their position on the project. "Our experts and engineers, many of whom attend meetings like these across the U.S., remarked that Monroeville was one of the most respectful, thoughtful and engaged groups they've encountered," Shah said. Shah said residents raised concerns about noise, water consumption and electricity rates. He said several residents who initially opposed the project acknowledged that some of their concerns came from uncertainty about the development and the changes it could bring. "When you love your community as deeply as the people of Monroeville do, the thought of change can be unsettling," Shah said. Shah also addressed concerns that Decimal Digital is an outside company interested primarily in financial returns. He said the company's owners and their families are personally invested in the project and hope to establish a lasting relationship with Monroeville. "I know some of you see us as outsiders, but that's not how we feel," Shah said. "We genuinely care about this community and getting things right." Questions remain about development Decimal Digital is proposing a 100-megawatt data center on approximately 48 acres in the Fort Monroe Industrial Park. The facility would support advanced computing and artificial intelligence. The project has drawn both support and opposition. Supporters point to the potential for construction jobs, long-term employment and additional revenue for the village and local schools. Opponents have raised questions about noise, electricity demand, environmental impacts and the long-term effects of a large data center in a small community. Some concerns have been influenced by problems involving an existing cryptocurrency mining operation in the industrial park, which has been the subject of litigation and receivership proceedings. Decimal Digital currently operates as a tenant at the existing facility after taking over from the prior operator, Grey Matter. The company has maintained that its proposed Project Eagle Ridge development would be different from the existing cryptocurrency mining operation. The open house provided an opportunity for residents to question company representatives about those differences and the potential effects of the proposed development. What comes next The project still faces hurdles before construction can begin. Monroeville has a moratorium on new data center development that remains in effect until March 2027. Voters will also have an opportunity to weigh in through a nonbinding advisory question on the Nov. 3 ballot. The question asks whether voters support allowing data center development within village limits, provided the development complies with village zoning regulations and applicable development agreements. The result will provide village council with public input but will not, by itself, approve or prohibit Project Eagle Ridge. For Shah, the open house represented another opportunity to build relationships with residents as the company continues pursuing the development. "I appreciated everyone's willingness to have these conversations openly, and I recognize that earning your trust is something that happens through our actions over time, not overnight," Shah said.