Ohio Community Confronts Amazon's Controversial Power Plant Approval
Residents of a small Ohio town are expressing profound anger after state authorities greenlit a power plant project that will generate staggering climate-warming emissions exceeding a million pounds of carbon dioxide each day. Documents examined reveal that Hilliard, a community of approximately 39,000 people, is set to host a substantial 73-megawatt natural gas fuel cell system designed specifically to power an expanding fleet of Amazon Web Services data centres.
The Fuel Cell Controversy and Emissions Reality
Amazon has defended the fuel cells as essential infrastructure to sustain electricity consumption for planned data centre expansions. Unlike traditional combustion engines, fuel cells convert methane from natural gas into electricity without burning it, a process proponents argue reduces energy loss from heat output and improves efficiency.
However, this technological approach does not constitute a completely clean energy solution. According to disclosures from the city of Hilliard, the project's 228 fuel cells will emit between 1.19 million and 1.46 million pounds of CO₂ every twenty-four hours during regular operation. These figures align precisely with the city's evaluation of the proposal, which indicates the Bloom Energy-manufactured system will emit 679 to 833 pounds of CO₂ per megawatt-hour.
The city has formally requested that either Amazon or AEP Ohio, the public utility company operating the plant, incorporate carbon capture technology to mitigate these substantial emissions. In response, AEP Ohio has stated that implementing carbon capture at this site is currently impossible due to Ohio's lack of necessary permits for CO₂ transport pipelines and underground injection wells for storage.
Community Concerns and Historical Sensitivities
Hilliard residents, particularly parents of children attending Beacon Elementary School located just 4,000 feet from the proposed plant site, have voiced multiple concerns. City Councilmember Les Carrier articulated the community's frustration at a recent council meeting, acknowledging global energy needs while questioning the appropriateness of releasing 1.5 million pounds of CO₂ daily adjacent to neighbourhoods and schools without proper impact assessment.
The city estimates the plant's daily carbon dioxide output would roughly equal emissions from approximately 66,000 vehicles. While this comparison isn't exact—vehicles emit additional pollutants beyond CO₂—the fuel cells would primarily release carbon dioxide, a significant greenhouse gas contributing to climate change, though not directly harmful to humans at typical outdoor concentrations.
Hilliard's sensitivity to pollution issues stems from a troubling historical incident approximately thirty years ago. Students and staff at Beacon Elementary reported serious symptoms including headaches, nausea, breathing difficulties, and throat irritation allegedly caused by fumes from a nearby wastewater facility. The operator, Laidlaw Environmental Service, faced multiple lawsuits before the plant was decommissioned in 2001.
Resident Amy Swank expressed fears about history repeating itself, questioning where data centres could be located to balance demand while respecting children's safety. Longtime resident Christ Ighnat raised specific concerns about fire hazards, noting Hilliard currently lacks codes or ordinances regulating fuel cells and questioning emergency response capabilities.
Regulatory Battles and Safety Apprehensions
Norwich Township, which encompasses Hilliard, has formally expressed worries about the new fuel cell technology presenting fire risks and storing substantial natural gas concentrations. Township Administrator Jamie Fisher wrote on behalf of trustees that the fire department hasn't received sufficient technical documentation, safety protocols, training, or emergency response coordination plans to manage potential hazards effectively.
The regulatory pathway has proven contentious. While Hilliard originally approved Amazon's data centre in 2022—before the fuel cell plant was proposed in 2025—the Norwich Township Board of Trustees formally opposed the power plant. Amazon and AEP Ohio circumvented local approval by appealing to state authorities, withdrawing their application before Hilliard officials could decide and arguing Ohio's government held jurisdiction.
The Ohio Power Siting Board agreed, approving the project in September despite objections from local officials and residents. AEP Ohio maintains this approach follows established legal and regulatory processes rather than intentionally bypassing municipal authority, adding that the project has undergone extensive regulatory review meeting all applicable safety, environmental, and operational standards.
Ongoing Challenges and Future Developments
Hilliard has appealed the Ohio EPA's air permit for the fuel cell system's installation to the Ohio Environmental Review Appeals Commission, a move that could delay construction. Although work was scheduled to begin in January, AEP Ohio confirms groundbreaking hasn't yet occurred, with construction expected to commence this year and continue through autumn 2027.
AEP Ohio has pledged to collaborate with the city on a future public forum for residents. Meanwhile, the company defends the fuel cells as proven safe, clean solutions meeting customer energy needs, claiming they offer a lower-carbon alternative producing thirty to forty-five percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions than the regional electric grid and conventional onsite generation technologies.
Amazon spokesperson Kylee Yonas clarified that AEP Ohio will temporarily use fuel cells to power part of their data centre operations while larger Ohio power infrastructure upgrades are completed. This explanation does little to assuage community concerns about substantial daily emissions and potential safety risks in their backyard.
