06/01/2026
My father was an urban history professor at the University of Akron for many years. One of the things I remember him explaining to me growing up was a little bit of how socioeconomics play a rather large role into how communities develop over time. Companies that know they will contaminate resources or cause biological harm with their manufacturing process or other means, often seek poorer sections of a community to place their infrastructure. Why? Because residents in those communities generally do not have the financial resources, education, or time to fight back.
The upfront short term financial gains are often enticing for an economically challenged community. However, the long term losses in pristine resources and health are immeasurable and often realized too late.
Rural America is the new economically challenged community. These data centers are intentionally targeting those areas. These companies would have done quite a bit of prior research in order to approach the communities most likely to agree so as not to waste their financial resources or time on sites more unlikely to accept the terms presented.
It is sad to be witnessing this playing out so close to home.
*picture is the farm's view of the Geis building from across the turnpike.
