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Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus\/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, joined host Ed \u201cFlash\u201d Ferenc on March 6 for his monthly appearance on the America\u2019s Work Force Union Podcast. The two discussed Central Ohio\u2019s construction momentum, how area building trades unions are ready to staff up and why the region must keep pushing back against forces that slow down critical development.<\/span><\/p>\n Hager opened with the latest developments on the Intel chip manufacturing project in Licking County. He reported that close to 1,000 building trades members are currently working on-site, and Bechtel plans to bring on roughly 600 more workers in the next 60 to 90 days as weather improves and exterior work increases.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hager noted the project continues to track toward Intel\u2019s goal of producing chips by 2031 and emphasized the broader ecosystem it is helping to build, including data centers, behind-the-meter power projects and anticipated supplier arrivals in the next year to year and a half.<\/span><\/p>\n Ferenc then asked about the growing resistance to data centers in communities across Ohio. Hager said the opposition mirrors what the trades saw with the expansion of solar projects \u2014\u201cNIMBYism,\u201d misinformation, and a small number of vocal opponents putting pressure on elected officials.<\/span><\/p>\n He detailed a recent situation in Asheville, Ohio, in which PowerConnects and EdgeConnects reached an agreement with the village to annex land for a larger data center campus. The deal included $35 million for local schools and a full redo of the village\u2019s troubled water and sewage system\u2014a project that would otherwise add roughly $174 per month to residents\u2019 bills. Despite those benefits, the mayor resigned amid death threats and community backlash, and a newly reorganized council voted against the annexation.<\/span><\/p>\n The original, smaller campus of three data centers is still moving forward, Hager said, adding that the building trades are working to get into communities and address myths\u2014including misconceptions about water use, permanent jobs and grid impact. He also cited the long-term nature of data center work, with some trades members working on the Meta campus in New Albany continuously for nearly 12 years.<\/span><\/p>\n Regarding behind-the-meter power, Hager said the first natural gas energy plant broke ground recently, and a second pre-job is scheduled in the coming weeks. Once those plants come online, he said, Central Ohio building trades members will not only be building and maintaining data centers but also gas and potentially hydrogen plants\u2014creating sustained demand for skilled union workers for the next 10 to 15 years.<\/span><\/p>\nIntel update: nearly 1,000 on-site with ramp-up to 1,600 underway<\/b><\/h2>\n
Data center pushback: NIMBYism, Asheville and the power question<\/b><\/h2>\n
Bluegrass Power Station approved: up to 2,000 workers expected<\/b><\/h2>\n