A proposal by Amazon Web Services to add a fuel cell system to power its data center campus on Scioto Darby Road is now expected to proceed without City of Hilliard approval.
American Electric Power, which will own the natural gas-powered fuel cells, delivered a letter to City leaders Oct. 20 that withdraws its application to the City’s Planning & Zoning Commission based on State law exempting the project from local review.
Per Ohio law — Section 4906.13(B) of the Revised Code — only the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB), a division of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, has the sole authority approve such a project.
The project was eligible for the OPSB’s accelerated application process. Ohio House Bill 15, which was signed into law in May, created such procedures for major utility facilities.
Therefore, OPSB’s approval became effective Sept. 22. No additional approval is necessary; OPSB has exclusive ongoing jurisdiction over the construction and operation of the facility.
As a result, Amazon Web Services will withdraw its application to the City for a modification to its site plan. The case will not be heard by the City’s Planning & Zoning Commission at its Nov. 13 meeting, as initially expected.
“The City of Hilliard is disappointed to not have the opportunity to formally review the project as we would with almost all other new development projects in Hilliard”, said Acting City Manager Dan Ralley.
“These are the types of issues that should be addressed at the local level,” said Ralley. “It’s regrettable that state lawmakers have overridden local oversight, particularly since this technology is unfamiliar and new not just to our City, but also the entire State.”
Ralley noted that the City will continue to make sure local regulations, including those regarding noise, are followed.
City officials have met with officials from AEP and Bloom Energy, including acoustic experts who have modeled sound that is expected to be generated by the proposed 228 fuel cell units. A recent study indicated that the operation of these units will be below sound thresholds established in the City’s codified ordinances.
Noise generated by the units via small cooling fans is expected to be low, particularly at property lines for the site. Further, because the proposed fuel cells will be located in the center of the campus, buildings already constructed to the north are expected to serve as a sound barrier for nearby residents.
AEP and Bloom Energy have indicated that they will work with the Norwich Township Fire Department on safety training that will be necessary for the fuel cell installation, which will require a large-diameter, high pressure gas line be installed to the site through sections of Columbus and the former Buckeye Yard.
The OPSB certificate also requires that AEP and Bloom Energy complete a fire protection engineering review and provide necessary equipment and training, at their cost, prior to the facility being placed in service.
