UNION听鈥 Roughly 850 people filled the gym at Union High School at dinner time Tuesday night to watch the Franklin County planning commission weigh in on developers' plans for two massive data centers proposed here.听
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Dan Haire, chairman of the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission, addresses the crowd during a public meeting in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
A crowd of about 850 people listen as Rene Bollinger addresses the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in the gym at Union High School. Bollinger, who lives about a half-mile from one of two proposed data centers, spoke against their development. The crowd on hand spoke overwhelmingly against the two proposed data centers that developers want to build in the county.
Photos: Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission hold marathon public comment session
About 850 people attended the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The crowd on hand spoke overwhelmingly against the two proposed data centers that developers want to build in Franklin County.
About 850 people attended the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The crowd on hand spoke overwhelmingly against the two proposed data centers that developers want to build in Franklin County.
A crowd of about 850 people listen as Jeff Aboussie speaks on behalf of organized labor interests who are in favor building data centers in Franklin County as he addresses Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The crowd on hand spoke overwhelmingly against the two proposed data centers that developers want to build in Franklin County.
A crowd of about 850 people listen as Rene Bollinger addresses the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in the gym at Union High School. Bollinger, who lives about a half-mile from one of two proposed data centers, spoke against their development. The crowd on hand spoke overwhelmingly against the two proposed data centers that developers want to build in the county.
Dan Haire, chairman of the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission, addresses the crowd during a public meeting in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
William McLaren, right, walks back to his seat after addressing the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission during a public meeting in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. McLaren owns the land he plans to sell to Beltline Energy. Beltline Energy wants to build a data center on land just south of Pacific. At the start of the meeting McLaren announced that he had stepped down from the planning and zoning commission.
Bill Hubbard is sworn in before he addresses the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Hubbard spoke against data center development in Franklin County. The crowd of about 850 people spoke overwhelmingly against the two proposed data centers that developers want to build in Franklin County.
Dan Haire, chairman of the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission, addresses the crowd during a public meeting in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
A crowd of about 850 people listen as Beltline Energy partner Ryan Sanders addresses Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The crowd on hand spoke overwhelmingly against the two proposed data centers that developers want to build in Franklin County.
A crowd of about 850 people listen as Roman Pacewicz addresses Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Pacewicz spoke in favor of the proposed data center at Diamond Farms in Franklin County, but the crowd on hand spoke overwhelmingly against the two proposed data centers that developers want to build.
People stand and cheer for a commenter after they finished addressing the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission about data centers in gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The crowd on hand spoke overwhelmingly against the two proposed data centers that developers want to build in Franklin County.
William McLaren, in the upper left corner, listens to the public comments during the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. McLaren owns the land he plans to sell to Beltline Energy. Beltline Energy wants to build a data center on land just south of Pacific. At the start of the meeting McLaren announced that he had stepped down from the planning and zoning commission.
A crowd of about 850 people listen as Beltline Energy partner Ryan Sanders addresses Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The crowd on hand spoke overwhelmingly against the two proposed data centers that developers want to build in Franklin County.
A crowd of about 850 people listen as Mark Baxa addresses the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Baxa spoke against data center development, he lives in the Desloge Estates subdivision that is next to one of the proposed data centers. The crowd on hand spoke overwhelmingly against the two proposed data centers that developers want to build in Franklin County.
About 850 people attended the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The crowd on hand spoke overwhelmingly against the two proposed data centers that developers want to build in Franklin County.
About 850 people attended the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The crowd on hand spoke overwhelmingly against the two proposed data centers that developers want to build in Franklin County.
Members of the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission listen to comments from the crowd about two proposed data centers during a public meeting in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
Laura Hannah addressed members of the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Hannah spoke against the two proposed data centers that developers want to build in Franklin County.
Laura Hannah, 65, raises her hand as the crowd claps and cheers a little after she addressed members of the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Hannah spoke against the two proposed data centers that developers want to build in Franklin County.
12:39 a.m. Beltline Energy partner Ryan Sanders, looks towards another group of data center closers during the closer group, appears before the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 18, 2026.
12:26 a.m. William McLaren yawns as members of the public make public comments to the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission in the gym at Union High School on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. McLaren owns land he plans to sell to Beltline Energy. Beltline Energy wants to build a data center on land just south of Pacific. At the start of the meeting McLaren announced that he had stepped down from the planning and zoning commission.
3:20 a.m. Nancy Watson and her husband Jerry Watson, both 80, hold up a photo to Nichole Zielke that shows where their house is and where a proposed data center would be after they gave a public comment to the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission in the gym at Union High School on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Zielke is the planning director for Franklin County. The Watson鈥檚 are against the construction of the data center.
12:19 a.m. Members of the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission listen to a pitch by developers who want to build a $40 billion data center, in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.听
1:41 a.m.听 Anna Casey, left, leans on her son Atticus Casey, as her husband Sean Casey and daughter Adin Casey rest at 1:40 a.m. as people continue to make public comments to the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission in the gym at Union High School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. 鈥淲e've got to see this through,鈥 said Atticus Casey. The meeting, which was called to order at 6 p.m. would not adjourn until 4:39 a.m.
At 3:37 a.m. Trevor Heckmann yawns while resting in the bleachers as the public continues to make comments about two proposed data centers to members of the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission in the gym at Union High School on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
At 4:13 a.m., Cindy Klink rests on the bleachers as the public continues to make comments about two proposed data centers to members of the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in the gym at Union High School. The meeting, which was called to order at 6 p.m., would not adjourn until 4:39 a.m. More than 850 people showed up for the meeting, but only a few dozen made it to the end.
By 2:42 a.m. only a few dozen people remained of the more than 850 people who attended the the the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission in the gym at Union High School on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The meeting, which was called to order at 6 p.m. would not adjourn until 4:39 a.m.
4:41 a.m. After the meeting was adjourned Adin Casey yawns as she walks out of the adjourned meeting of the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission in the gym at Union High School on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Here's what you need to know about data centers in the 最新杏吧原创 area. Reporting by Bryce Gray, video by Jenna Jones.
