Editor- Just so readers are aware, we are reaching out to all candidates for the seat and offering equal time

In a first for us, a Democratic primary challenger for Ohio’s 15th Congressional District, Don Leonard, joined the Hilliard Beacon Audio Companion for a wide-ranging discussion of economic inequality, foreign policy, and the motivations behind his campaign for Congress. Leonard, who taught on the city and regional planning faculty at Ohio State, framed his candidacy as emerging from years of research into governance and inequality. “I’m not a career politician. I’m not a lawyer or a lobbyist or anything like that,” Leonard said, describing a decade of academic work focused on why some political systems drift toward authoritarianism while others maintain stable democratic institutions.

Leonard traced the intellectual roots of his campaign to the political shock of the 2016 election and the comparative research he had conducted across Latin America. Drawing on work in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, he argued that economic structure (particularly the strength of the middle class) plays a decisive role in the health of democratic systems. “The stronger your middle class, the less likely authoritarians are to succeed,” Leonard said, linking the rise of populist politics in the United States to growing inequality and decades of bipartisan economic consensus around trade and privatization.

The candidate said his decision to move from research into electoral politics came more recently, citing what he views as escalating institutional pressures during the Trump era. Specifically, Leonard pointed to attacks on universities, immigration enforcement policies, and political rhetoric he believes threatens Constitutional norms in an ongoing way. He described a moment of personal reckoning after the birth of his daughter and the realization she might live to see the next century. Don said he felt the erosion of important civic “firewalls” threatened that future and made him feel compelled to act politically rather than solely as an academic observer.

Foreign policy and campaign financing also emerged as defining issues in the interview. Leonard said he would support halting U.S. offensive weapons exports to Israel during ongoing military operations in Gaza and pledged independence from pro-Israel lobbying groups. When asked about accepting funding tied to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Leonard responded directly: “We would never accept money from AIPAC.” In order to get money out of politics Leonard is not afraid to suggest a Constitutional Amendment (among other regulatory measures) to publicly finance elections.

The discussion closed with broader reflections on the ideological pressures shaping both parties and the challenge of building a coalition of politicians and appropriate government “technology” capable of reversing the conditions Leonard believes are fueling economic inequality and political instability in the United States today.

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Trustee Rick Tidd Resigns; Appointment Process Underway

* View the full application / guidelines page HERE

Big Darby Accord Revision Enters Public Phase

* View the full Draft of the updated Accord HERE

Ridgewood Parking Restrictions Rescinded

* Decision came after improper public meeting rules. Read our original 2024 story HERE and read the latest HERE

Beacon Elementary Construction - Early Impacts

Beacon Expands Coverage to Congressional Race

* The Beacon is in conversations to interview Don Leonard, congressional primary candidate for Hilliard district (OH-15) We will be extending an identical offer to opponent Adam Miller and incumbent Republican Mike Carey.

‘500 Tabs’ Sneak Peek

* Jordan can’t let a good story go but Apple has decided 500 open tabs in a single group is the limit. Instead of declaring ‘browser bankruptcy’ and wiping the slate he’s decided to slow down the info avalanche, power through the backlog and share the work.

* https://archive.ph/RyHKB ‘Musk’s Twitter investors have lost billions in value’As recently as end of year 2024, X valuations had experienced a 79% markdown to less than 20% of its forty-four billion purchase price. Since 2025 internal restructuring and the paper acquisition by his own highly speculative xAI product, those valuations have rebounded despite lower revenues across the board - somehow - to almost exactly forty-four billion dollars.

* Is Elon’s X worth every penny “he” paid or is this yet another case of financial speculation outrunning common sense to make sure the system just keeps chugging for elite capital?

The Hilliard Beacon is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

As we experience the shifting pace of life here in Hilliard we give consideration to the pressing issues of the day and the pacing issues that will determine our shared future. The last few weeks have provided example after example of that kaleidoscopic effect; whether it be another historic snowfall for Ohioans, a new school groundbreaking or iterating a twenty-five year housing plan. This week Jordan, Tim and Kevin do their best to catch back up!

Discussion Outline

* Historic snowfall and extended school cancellations

* Dedication of the new land trust home at 3474 Bryant

Hilliard’s Housing Steering Committee’s most recent meeting (2/5)

* City manager selection of Josh Rauch (Riverside)

Structure and contract details of the new city manager

* Hilliard Development Corporation (HDC) meeting observations

Innovation grants and tech-forward development strategy

Hotel bed tax allocation and long-term ROI questions

* Beacon Elementary groundbreaking and demolition of the legacy building

* Amazon data center fuel cell meeting (March 5 at The Well)

Hydrogen, frack gas, and on-site generation concerns

* Warehouse / Studio fire response and first responder performance

Nearly 3 years into our existence as the Hilliard Beacon the city Kevin reported on for decades has changed considerably, but it has always been changing.By 2050, the physical form of Hilliard will reflect choices being debated today - about land, ownership structures, density, capital flows, and energy.

The Beacon continues to document not just what is happening but what kind of city is being constructed in the process.

Join us today with either a free or paid subscription

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On the latest edition of the HBAC we were really pleased to welcome Exec. Director and lifelong Hilliard resident Samantha Brill for a long overdue visit to the studio!

Destination Hilliard, the nonprofit organization charged with promoting tourism, is increasingly positioning its work not only around attracting visitors but also around helping existing residents engage more fully with the city’s growing slate of events, businesses and amenities.

The organization operates independently while coordinating closely with city government.

While its formal role centers on tourism, Brill emphasized that its work frequently overlaps with resident engagement.

“Destination Hilliard promotes things that serve our city’s visitors,” she said, but many of those same efforts also connect residents with local events and businesses.

Website, social media serve residents seeking local activities

Brill said one of Destination Hilliard’s most widely used tools is its website, redesigned over the past year to function as a centralized information source for both visitors and residents.

“We just launched a new site over the past year… so that it’s a one-stop shop,” she said. “If you are coming to Hilliard or if you live in Hilliard and you’re looking for something to do, you can find everything you want there.”

The organization’s weekly event listings on social media have also become a primary way residents learn about local activities.

“In fact, one of our most successful posts is our weekly graphic… People want to know what there is to do,” Brill said.

Destination Hilliard also organizes and supports community events intended to draw participation from residents while showcasing local businesses.

Events bring visitors while supporting local businesses

At the same time, Destination Hilliard continues its core work of recruiting regional events that bring outside visitors and additional spending into the city.

One example is the Ohio Coffee Festival, which relocated to Hilliard after losing its previous venue.

“I had heard through the grapevine that they were looking for a place… It just seemed like the perfect fit,” Brill said.

The event now draws approximately 11,000 people to Hilliard over a single weekend.

“And not only is it an event that brings in 11,000 people, it’s a demographic that tends to actually explore Hilliard too.”

Visitors often extend their stay beyond the event itself, benefiting local restaurants, retail shops and other businesses.

Visitor attraction supports broader economic base

Brill said attracting visitors from outside the immediate area produces measurable economic returns.

“When people come to Hilliard, they spend, I can’t remember the exact amount, but it’s something like 50 to $100,” she said. “When they come from outside of 50 miles, that goes up by at least $50.”

Such visitors are also more likely to stay overnight, increasing demand for lodging.

Six hotels currently operate near Interstate 270, with additional development planned.

“In Q3 of this year, there will be another hotel at True Point,” Brill said.

Tourism strategy tied to resident experience and city growth

Brill said Destination Hilliard’s work ultimately serves both of her primary audiences: attracting visitors while helping residents experience the full range of amenities available within their own city.

By promoting events, supporting businesses and expanding access to information, the organization’s efforts contribute both to Hilliard’s economic development and to the daily experience of those who call it home.

The Hilliard Beacon is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

As Hilliard faces fast-approaching deadlines tied to state and federal permitting for the proposed Amazon data center along Scioto-Darby Road, local advocates Paul Lambert and Cathy Cowan-Becker joined the us to outline the rapidly escalating number of changes affecting community interests, state-level legislation, and the energy demands of hyperscale data infrastructure.

The immediate concern centers on a pending Ohio EPA air permit that would authorize approximately 150 Tier 2 diesel generators at the Hilliard site. The draft permit, now open for public comment, has heightened fears about air quality, particulate pollution, and the proximity of large-scale industrial equipment to homes, schools, and parks.

A Regional Pattern

Cowan-Becker emphasized that Hilliard is far from alone. Across Central Ohio, municipalities and townships are increasingly moving to slow or halt data center development altogether.

Within the past several months, Jerome Township enacted a nine-month moratorium on data centers, while Washington Township adopted a 90-day pause and urged Dublin to follow suit. In Dublin, resident opposition has delayed plans in the West Innovation District, with the most recent proposal scheduled for January discussion excluding data centers entirely. Further south, South Bloomfield and Ashville approved a six-month moratorium, and in Wilmington, a proposed Amazon facility has generated enough resistance to table a planning vote amid organized community opposition.

While these actions do not permanently block projects, both guests noted that they buy time for residents to organize, educate themselves, and signal political resistance which is sometimes enough to cause developers to abandon sites altogether.

Federal Retreat, Local Accountability?

The discussion also addressed recent announcements by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which has stated it will no longer weigh human health impacts (so-called “externalities”) as heavily when evaluating regulations, instead focusing primarily on economic effects to industry.

Cowan-Becker explained that while this shift weakens federal oversight, it increases the importance of local decision-making, where elected officials remain directly accountable to residents.

However, both guests warned that state law increasingly limits local control.

HB 15 and “Behind-the-Meter” Power

Much of that constraint stems from House Bill 15, which allows large energy users (explicitly including data centers) to build private, behind-the-meter power generation without meaningful local review.

According to Cowan-Becker, this effectively guarantees that approving a data center also approves a fossil-fuel power plant next to it:

“If you approve a data center, you are approving a gas plant to go next to that data center… There will be no public hearing. Your residents won’t even know about it.”

In Hilliard’s case, that generation would likely rely on natural gas, supplemented by extensive diesel backup systems. These back-ups are chosen not for environmental performance, but for speed and reliability.

Density Mismatch for Renewables

Paul’s background in previous eras of these sites helped to detail the sheer magnitude of energy consumption driving these decisions. Based on Amazon’s own permit filings, the Scioto-Darby site would support roughly 400 megawatts of load, derived from 148 diesel generators averaging 2.5 megawatts each.

“They wouldn’t put in 400 megawatts of generators if they didn’t have a 400 megawatt load planned for the site.”

While the table are largely fans of renewable energy, Paul explained that powering such a facility exclusively with more environmentally friendly generation would require millions of solar panels covering dozens of square miles, or hundreds of wind turbines spread across a comparable footprint. By default, the density of demand leaves fossil fuels as the only option under current policy.

Jordan points out the fundamental mismatch between renewable energy and hyperscale data centers should not be read as an indictment of renewables but rather as evidence of how extreme and historically anomalous the data center use case has become with renewables aligning more naturally with human-scale demand.

“The fact that it’s not up to this crazy use case isn’t a damning statement on renewable energy. It’s more a damning statement on the crazy use case, I think.”

Speculation, Finance, and the AI Gold Rush

Beyond local land use and pollution concerns, Lambert framed data centers as part of a broader speculative cycle tied to AI and financial markets. He likened the current build-out to historical investment bubbles, where capital chases perceived inevitability faster than underlying economics can justify.

“There’s always a snake oil salesman that shows up and says, ‘I know how to take your money.’”

Lambert described a layered ecosystem of owner-operators, co-location developers, and pure land speculators, warning that many participants at the lower end may never realize sustainable returns once energy, water, and infrastructure constraints collide with the pace of technological change.

Environmental and Climate Consequences

Cowan-Becker closed by connecting Ohio’s data center boom to broader fossil-fuel expansion, including renewed fracking on public lands. She cited methane leakage throughout the gas supply chain and massive water consumption per well, arguing that data-center-driven gas demand driving fracking is incompatible with climate commitments.

“If these are powered by fossil fuels… it’s derailing our chance of rescuing a livable climate.”

What Comes Next

With public comment deadlines looming and state law limiting municipal authority, both guests urged residents to remain engaged at the local level, where community engagement has already altered outcomes elsewhere in Ohio.

The Hilliard Beacon is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

For our first fresh Audio Companion of the new year we featured an in-depth conversation with Annette Singh, a Hilliard resident who has emerged as a leading local advocate around the environmental and governance implications of Amazon’s expanding data center footprint on Scioto Darby Road. Singh described how a neighbor-to-neighbor conversation in October quickly escalated into sustained civic engagement, legal appeals, and coordination with city officials over air permits and on-site power generation plans.

Originally, residents understood the Amazon facility as a conventional grid-connected data center, but later learned that plans included extensive behind-the-meter power generation, including 228 natural gas fuel cells and a subsequent draft permit for diesel generators. Annette described the process as opaque and fast-moving, noting that “the deeper you dig, the less information is known,” with overlapping authority and initiative shared among Amazon, AEP, PJM, the Ohio EPA, and the Ohio Power Siting Board.

A major concern raised in the discussion was the revelation that projects exceeding 50 megawatts fall under the jurisdiction of the Ohio Power Siting Board, effectively removing local veto power. Singh characterized this as a consequence of state law like HB15, saying, “the more power you ask for, you just usurp local government,” particularly for facilities located near homes, schools, and public parks.

She emphasized that while she understands the need for data infrastructure, the addition of large-scale on-site generation fundamentally changes the nature and impact of the facility.

Singh also detailed her role in appealing the fuel cell air permit and monitoring the newer draft permit for diesel generators, which she said would be regulated under a Title V air permit. She described Title V as a significant threshold, stating that it applies when emissions are high enough that “the government needs [to] step in” and require ongoing monitoring.

Particular concern was raised about the lack of a clear (and potentially outdated) definition of “emergency use” for diesel generators and the absence of enforceable penalties if runtime limits are exceeded.

Citizen Advocacy, Public Hearings, and Technology Standards

During the interview, Singh outlined how a small working group of residents has divided research responsibilities, with her focus on EPA air quality standards and permitting frameworks. She confirmed that both she and the City of Hilliard are parties to the appeal of the fuel cell permit, while the diesel generator permit remains in draft form before the Ohio EPA.

Resources

Singh said the group has mailed letters requesting a public hearing on the diesel generator permit, explaining that such hearings are not automatic and must be explicitly requested by the public. She expressed concern that the generators proposed are Tier II technology, which she described as outdated, and questioned why Tier IV generator offering significantly reduced emissions were not required instead. “I think a win would be getting these to a tier four level,” she said, adding that such a change would benefit both the community and the company.

Ward-Based Representation and Ongoing Civic Engagement

Jordan (as usual ;-) turned to the broader question of how Hilliard residents can engage more consistently and effectively with city government as large-scale projects accelerate. The current ad hoc model (where residents organize rapidly around individual issues) is insufficient for a city now hosting multinational corporate developments. He called for “an ongoing engaged ward system where there are recurring meetings for geographic areas of the city,” describing such a system as a way to ensure sustained, city-sanctioned civic participation rather than temporary issue-specific mobilization.

Annette described herself as having become civically engaged only in recent months, and said the experience highlighted how high the barriers to participation can feel for residents balancing work and family responsibilities. She emphasized the value of accessible forums that lower the threshold for being heard, noting that many residents simply do not know where to raise concerns until a problem becomes urgent.

All agreed that more structured, ongoing neighborhood-level engagement could help residents share information earlier, reduce isolation, and better prepare communities to respond to complex projects as they arise.

We hope you enjoy our ongoing coverage of the city of Hilliard.

The podcast is produced by Tim Hofmann for Franklin Street Studios

The Hilliard Beacon is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

We pass the torch to 2026 and recommit to our mission: keeping you reliably informed about the dynamic city of Hilliard!

David Letterman Style…here are our TOP 10 stories of the year by view count!

Number 10

https://hilliardbeacon.substack.com/p/new-shared-use-path-on-dublin-road

Number 9

Number 8

Number 7

Number 6

https://hilliardbeacon.substack.com/p/hilliard-city-council-will-appeal

Number 5

https://hilliardbeacon.substack.com/p/amazons-power-play-ohio-revised-code

Number 4

Number 3

Number 2

Number 1

The Hilliard Beacon is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

(Music and Production by Tim Hofmann for Franklin Street Creative)

Folks, we’re back. Been a minute…sorry about it! In the latest episode of the Hilliard Beacon Audio Companion we opened with a community-wide call to action centered on Hilliard Food Pantry Plus. Hosts Jordan, Tim, and Kevin Corvo highlighted a now concluded December drive at the UALC Mill Run Campus and emphasized that ongoing monetary donations are especially impactful, as funds can be multiplied through Mid-Ohio Food Bank partnerships. We hope our quick plug emphasized the expanding role of the pantry, which provides not only food assistance but also critical access to additional community resources.

Community Care Overcomes Toy Ruin

On another front of the giving season, a significant portion of the conversation had to focus on an unexpected setback for the Norwich Township Fire Department: a sewage pipe failure at the firehouse that destroyed approximately $30,000 worth of toys intended for holiday distribution. Fire Chief Dave Baird explained that contamination required all stored toys to be discarded, leaving the department scrambling to replace them just days before scheduled deliveries to Hilliard Food Pantry Plus. While insurance claims are underway, the timing gap prompted urgent community appeals, with local businesses, schools, and residents responding through new toy drives and donations to ensure children don’t go without gifts this season.

Trustees-elect Brian Rothenberg and Kelli Arthur Hykes addressed questions around public funding and insurance, clarifying that township trustees lack immediate authority to make charitable disbursements without state and county approvals. Instead, they noted that insurance reimbursements for the destroyed toys are expected to be donated to the pantry after the claims process concludes, effectively shifting those funds to future support. The immediate priority, they said, was in bridging the short-term gap through community generosity to serve up to 1,000 families relying on the program. Immediate crisis averted we moved into…

Amazon Fuel Cell Discussion

Given the confluence of guests at the table the episode widened considerably. First we asked about preparations for Amazon’s proposed fuel-cell-powered data center and the strain of rapid growth on local fire and emergency services. Chief Baird described the department’s efforts to educate itself on emerging technologies not yet addressed in existing fire codes, while township leaders (and concerned residents) have stressed the importance of transparency, interagency coordination, and resident engagement.

https://www.nbc4i.com/video/hilliard-residents-raise-concern-over-fuel-cell-addition-to-data-center/11208053

Sutphen Strike and the Municipal Cost of Monopoly on Fire Safety

Lastly we turned to the ongoing labor dispute at Sutphen Corporation, a major manufacturer of firefighting apparatus, and its downstream effects on local governments. The table discussed how private equity consolidation in the larger fire truck industry has contributed to rising costs, longer delivery timelines, and reduced competition, while the current strike (tied largely to two-tier wage and benefit structures dating back to the 2007–08 downturn, according to Rothenberg) has left workers without health care since May.

The discussion framed the dispute as both a labor and public-interest (even national security) issue, arguing that antitrust enforcement and more deliberate procurement policies are increasingly necessary to protect workers, municipalities, and emergency response readiness.You can learn more about this pressing issue by reading the full piece which inspired the conversation here:

Thanks for listening to the HBAC - we’ll be back sometime around the Holiday break to take you through our annual most read (or listened to!) stories of the year!

The Hilliard Beacon is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In the latest episode of the HBAC, the hosts sat down to unpack the results of Hilliard’s most consequential local election in years, discuss the future of city leadership, and close out another election season of community coverage.

A Historic Sweep for Hilliard Democrats

Corvo opened with final election results confirming a clean sweep for Democratic candidates in the Hilliard City Council race, cementing complete party control of all seven seats for the first time in city history.

* Top vote-getters: Nadia Rasul led the field with 5,537 votes, followed by Andy Teater, Kathy Parker-Jones, and Tina Cottone.

* Republican candidates trailed significantly, with Bevan Schneck as the top GOP finisher at 3,430 votes.

Kevin reflected on how rapid demographic and political shifts transformed Hilliard’s council makeup. In 2019, Cynthia Vermillion became the city’s first Democrat on council in three decades; just six years later, the party holds every seat. Tim wondered whether the sweep was driven by new Democratic voters moving into the area or by lower Republican turnout.

The guys also noted that public skepticism toward further data center development (and council’s recent appeal of Amazon’s proposed fuel cell facility with the Ohio EPA) did not appear to hurt candidates who took strong stances against unchecked expansion.

Turnover in Norwich Township

Shifting the review, the guys went into the Norwich Township trustee race, where both incumbents Sonny Cantrell and Greg Young were unseated by Kelli Arthur Hykes and Brian Rothenberg. Corvo credited the challengers’ extensive community engagement and coalition-building, including outreach to Hilliard’s growing Muslim community through events at the Noor Islamic Cultural Center.

Jordan frames the overall outcome as part of a broader “new tent” moment for local Democrats. If developed, an organizational consolidation could shape both township and city priorities for years to come.

The Next City Manager: Defining the Role and the Search

With council now settled, attention turns to selecting Hilliard’s next city manager. The city retained Raftelis, a national executive search firm specializing in municipal management and public sector leadership.

The job posting describes Hilliard as a “financially stable, innovative” community seeking a visionary leader at a “pivotal moment” in its growth. The position offers a salary range of $210,000–$275,000, up from prior compensation under outgoing manager Michelle Crandall.

Requirements include at least seven years of local government experience, with a master’s degree preferred. Residency within Hilliard is “preferred but not required,” a change from the prior search process.

Despite a little concern over the posting (calling it “a little Melba toast” but fair) The crew recalled the emphasis from candidates that the next manager will need to build consensus. That consensus will have to cohere across a now single-party council while still navigating ongoing development, infrastructure, and corporate pressure points.

Looking Ahead

In closingthe guys reflected on the end of another election cycle and looked ahead to 2026:

* Some optimism that the newly elected council will “connect more clearly with residents” and bring renewed accountability to city governance - maybe even ward representation.

* Speculated on the scale of interest in the city manager role with Jordan on the low end at 7 and Corvo suggesting 30 applicants.

Another year in the books around election season - look forward to some more interviews throughout the final months of 2025 with some slowdowns and brief interludes around the holidays.

Thanks again for supporting us and we look forward to continuing our service to you all in 2026.

The Hilliard Beacon is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

(Music and Production by Tim Hofmann at Franklin Street Studios)

City Updates and Meeting Highlights

We opened this episode with an update on several city developments discussed in the latest Hilliard Happening newsletter and recent council meetings.

* Local Heroes Recognized: Four Darby High School and Tolles Career Center students (Future potential first responders Dylan Shields, Luke Self, Logan Faulkner, and Seth French) were honored by City Council for providing emergency aid to a semi-truck driver who suffered a medical episode.

* City Manager Search: The formal search for Hilliard’s next city manager is underway. The city has partnered with the national firm Raftelis to lead recruitment. Applications are open with the first review set for December 1. Virtual interviews will follow, with finalists participating in a public reception in February. A new city manager is expected by spring 2026.

* Tim Ward Memorial: In a nice concluding chapter, City Council and family dedicated a commemorative stone at First Responders Park in honor of former Mayor Tim Ward, recognizing his years of service to Hilliard.

* Upcoming Meetings:

* Housing Steering Committee – Thursday, Nov. 6, 6 p.m. (story to come)meetings take place at City Council chambers, 3800 Municipal Way.

* EPA Fuel Cell Permit Appeal: Council voted unanimously to appeal the Ohio EPA’s approval of fuel cells at the Amazon data center on Scioto Darby Road. The city will retain specialized environmental counsel as it challenges the permit.

Feature Interview: Cathy Cowan Becker on HB 15, Fuel Cells, and Citizen Advocacy

Guest Cathy Cowan Becker, co-founder of Save Ohio Parks and longtime environmental organizer, joined the program to help explain how recent state legislation enabled the fast-tracking of the Amazon fuel cell project and what it reveals about Ohio’s shifting energy policy.

Legislative Background

Cathy outlined the problematic House Bill 15, a sweeping energy reform bill passed earlier this year. The legislation repealed some provisions from the corrupt 2019 HB 6 but introduced new measures that compress Ohio Power Siting Board timelines. The new guidance cutting typical multi-year reviews to as few as 45 to 60 days for projects located on land owned by the applicant.

While framed as “energy neutral,” the bill’s language created an expedited path for natural gas-powered facilities serving private users such as data centers. These “behind-the-meter” projects are exempt from many forms of local review or public hearing. In Hilliard’s case, this mechanism allowed Amazon’s 73-megawatt fuel cell plant to move through the approval process with little notice to residents.

Cowan Becker and the City of Hilliard were the only two entities to file formal objections before the project’s automatic approval in September.

Fracked Gas and Greenwashing

The discussion explored how solid oxide fuel cells often touted as “clean” or “renewable” in this context rely on fracked natural gas, not hydrogen.

Although such fuel cells produce fewer particulates than traditional combustion, they still emit significant amounts of carbon dioxide.

According to Cowan Becker’s analysis of manufacturer data, emissions from the full installation could exceed a million tons of CO₂, undercutting Hilliard’s voter-approved renewable energy aggregation program.

She described the HB 15 language as a form of “greenwashing”: presenting fossil fuel infrastructure as a sustainable technology through neutral or misleading terminology.

Statehouse and Grassroots Action

Cathy outlined how her group tracks state legislation through committee email alerts and rulemaking notices which are often buried deep in agency communications. Save Ohio Parks, founded in response to mandated fracking on public lands, now monitors bills and encourages public comment or testimony at both the Statehouse and regulatory levels.

The organization is also supporting a new proposal to ban fracking in state parks and pushing for greater transparency in siting board decisions.

Paths Toward Positive Reform

Despite criticism of HB 15, Cowan Becker pointed to constructive models emerging in Ohio:

* Municipal and community-owned utilities (as seen in Westerville and Columbus) can lead local renewable adoption.

* HB 303, currently in committee, would enable community solar pilot projects that could allow residents to invest in shared solar installations and receive virtual net metering credits even if their own roofs aren’t suitable.

* Expanded virtual net metering could eventually allow large users like data centers to offset their electricity demand through offsite solar generation rather than gas-powered “fuel cells.”

Advocacy Roots

Cowan Becker’s environmental activism began in 2014 when Ohio lawmakers attempted to repeal the state’s renewable standards. She led the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign, which helped Columbus adopt the Midwest’s largest clean-energy aggregation program in 2020. That success encouraged suburbs including Hilliard, Grove City, and Worthington to follow suit with local renewable aggregation efforts that save residents money and cut emissions.

Stay Connected…

Hilliard’s unanimous Council appeal of the Amazon fuel cell permit may mark the first local test of Ohio’s accelerated siting authority under HB 15.

The Beacon will continue to follow the city’s legal appeal and upcoming legislation.

The Hilliard Beacon is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.