*This is a combined version of Commissioner Beverage’s series on Data Centers from October 2025
What Are Data Centers?
Data centers are physical facilities that house servers, data storage, networking equipment, and other IT infrastructure used to process, store, and distribute data. They’re the backbone of everything we do online or connected to a network. From streaming Netflix or checking your bank account, to using cloud storage, Zoom calls, and AI tools, data centers have a major impact on our day to day lives and are akin to power plants and water treatment facilities.
These facilities require large amounts of electricity to run and cooling systems, that are often water-based, to manage the heat generated by all that equipment at the facilities. Because of those demands, data centers are typically built in areas with strong, existing infrastructure and plentiful access to water. All of which Lake County has in abundance.
There are generally three categories of data centers, separated by their power requirements:
- Small: up to 1 megawatt (often serving local businesses or universities)
- Medium: 1–4 megawatts (regional or multi-tenant facilities)
- Hyperscale: tens to hundreds of megawatts, used by major tech companies like Google, Amazon, or Microsoft and are required for AI tools.
The larger the electrical draw, the greater the heat and therefore, the greater the cooling and water needs to properly operate.
That’s where Lake County’s strengths come in. We’re home to the Perry Nuclear Power Plant, and we have roughly 31 miles of shoreline on one of the largest sources of freshwater on Earth. Combined with our well-managed county utilities and access to major fiber, electrical transmission and road networks, Lake County checks nearly every box that data center developers look for.
But what would a data center mean for residents?
There are impacts to consider. These buildings produce low but steady noise, comparable to heavy traffic or a home vacuum cleaner. To address that, most modern data centers use sound barriers such as tree-lined green zone buffers or acoustic walls similar to the ones along State Route 2. They also manage light pollution through downward-facing fixtures and “night-sky” lighting plans that protect neighboring homes.
In short, data centers are the quiet engines of the digital world—vital to the economy, yet dependent on local power, water, and planning. And with its mix of infrastructure, location, and natural resources, Lake County sits right at the intersection of that conversation.
Data Center Projects and Their Impact
Understanding what data centers are is only the first step. The real question is what kind of project, if any, makes sense for Lake County. A massive hyperscale complex isn’t the only option. With the infrastructure we already have, we could pursue smaller or more balanced developments that strengthen the local economy without changing the character of our community.
When it comes to data centers, size makes all the difference. Larger facilities demand far more electricity, water, and land. Smaller operations might not make headlines, but they can deliver consistent benefits without overwhelming utilities or reshaping the landscape. So, what could that look like here at home?
A small data center that uses around one megawatt of power could serve as a local “edge” site that processes data closer to where it’s used. Hospitals, schools, small businesses, and emergency services rely on quick, reliable connections, and a facility like this could help meet that demand. It would take up less space, use far less water and energy, and create skilled technical and maintenance jobs without requiring major infrastructure upgrades. Smaller centers also blend more easily with nearby businesses and neighborhoods, producing little noise or light pollution.
A medium-sized center, in the one- to four-megawatt range, could act as a small technology park. Instead of a single massive operator, several tenants could share space for secure data operations, office work, and tech-driven startups. That type of development could expand the local business base and attract investment while keeping the impact manageable. Partnerships with Lakeland Community College, Auburn Career Center, and Lake Erie College could connect local students to training and job opportunities. Shared cooling, power, and fiber systems could lower costs and energy use, and newer designs can even reuse waste heat for nearby buildings.
Projects of that size might require upgrades to substations or roads, but those costs are typically covered by the developer, not local taxpayers. Medium-scale centers strike a healthy balance: large enough to bring new jobs and revenue, small enough to fit within local limits and zoning goals. A larger project would be greatly beneficial to the advancing, digital infrastructure that relies heavily around artificial intelligence. However, facilities that can handle those needs require nearly 10 times the amount of power to truly be prepared for the advancing world. A 50 MW facility would attract businesses, but also generate significantly more noise, require greater resource demand, and would negatively affect nearby residential neighborhoods.
Another option would be something entirely different that still uses the site’s infrastructure such as advanced manufacturing, research facilities, or logistics hubs that provide steady jobs without heavy power use. Such projects create visible, year-round benefits and keep future options open, avoiding dependence on one specialized industry.
Each path comes with trade-offs. Small centers bring stability with minimal disruption. Medium projects offer jobs and investment without straining utilities. Large hyperscale complexes promise big numbers but carry higher costs, noise, and environmental demands.
For Lake County, the question isn’t whether to develop land that attracts this kind of attention, it’s how to do it responsibly. Our strengths are our reliable infrastructure, abundant water, and skilled workforce that give us choices. The opportunity now is to use them wisely and build something that reflects both our community’s values and its potential.