environmental solutions VANTAGE POINT Experts weigh in on industry issues
Brownfields are the Answer
N DAN B. BROWN
ow that the dust has settled on the Intel computer-chip megaproject in central Ohio, and data centers are turning up in many communities across the state, I am writing this open letter to our leaders to offer a new perspective and with the hope that one day the focus on where to put these projects will shift from greenspace to places like Cleveland, where the infrastructure is already in place, a workforce already exists and the community would benefit greatly. Don’t get me wrong, I am not throwing shade on these amazing successes for the state. It is an unprecedented streak of wins by any measure. But what is a win for the state is also a loss for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. My hope is that with some planning, Cleveland and other cities like it across Ohio could be in position for this type of development one day in the future. Because… Here we sit in Cleveland, Ohio, along one of the greatest natural water
resources in the world, Lake Erie, yet hundreds of millions of dollars will be invested by Ohio taxpayers for water reclamation facilities to accommodate such projects elsewhere. Is it possible that kind of expense wouldn’t be needed if the facility was built here in Cleveland? Here we sit in Cleveland, Ohio, with roads already constructed, utilities already installed, internet capacity, workforce availability, public trans-
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