CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH - With data center development on the rise across Northeast Ohio and the nation, Cuyahoga County has released a new Data Center Development Guide to help local communities evaluate opportunities, understand potential impacts, and make informed decisions about future projects.

Ohio is home to nearly 200 data centers, including several dozen located in Cuyahoga County. As demand grows, developers are approaching more communities to find sites for new facilities. To help municipalities navigate these proposals, the Cuyahoga County Department of Sustainability created the Data Center Development Guide, a comprehensive resource that outlines key considerations for economic development, land use, energy demand, and water consumption. The guide is designed to help communities ask the right questions and assess projects based on local priorities and needs.

“We owe it to our residents to stop bad deals before they start,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne. “Left unchecked, data center projects can drain our power, our water, and our tax dollars without creating enough new jobs or tax revenue. I encourage all the communities in Cuyahoga County to review our recommendations and closely evaluate any proposed projects in their communities.”

The guide offers a framework for evaluating proposals and understanding how projects may affect residents, businesses, public utilities, and local government services.

“As data center development accelerates nationwide, communities must make decisions that carry significant long-term implications,” said Jenita McGowan, Deputy Chief of Staff for Sustainability and Climate for Cuyahoga County. “This guide helps local governments better understand issues such as energy use, infrastructure demands, environmental impacts, and economic benefits so they can approach these opportunities thoughtfully and strategically. Our goal is to ensure communities have the information they need to balance innovation, sustainability, and quality of life.”

To learn more about data centers or access the Data Center Development Guide, visit cuyahogacounty.gov/sustainability.