What's Happening in Our Community
The Facility
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is installing 228 natural gas-powered fuel cells at their data center on Scioto Darby Creek Road in Hilliard, Ohio.
- Location: Immediately adjacent to Darby Glen, Beacon, and the Glens residential neighborhoods, and near Beacon Elementary School
- Capacity: 73 megawatts
- Estimated Emissions: ~1 million pounds of CO₂ per day (365 million pounds per year)
- Scale: Never been deployed at this size in North America
Process Failure
The Ohio Power Siting Board approved this facility without local review. When Hilliard tried to evaluate the project, AEP cited state law that overrides local approval. Our community had no say.
Why We're Concerned
- No Health Impact Assessment: No study of effects on children before approval
- No Air Dispersion Modeling: No public analysis of where emissions will go
- Unprecedented Scale: 228 fuel cells is far beyond any tested deployment
- Proximity to Children: Elementary school, Darby Glenn Park and hundreds of homes with young families nearby
- Natural Gas Infrastructure: 8-inch pipeline with fire/explosion risks
What the Science Shows
Peer-reviewed research consistently shows that living near fuel-fired power plants—coal OR natural gas—increases health risks for children. The industry may claim "this isn't coal," but the evidence shows natural gas facilities harm children too.
Key Research Findings
Chicago Power Plant Closures
When three coal plants closed in 2012:
Reduction in asthma ED visits for children 0-4 years in nearby areas
Reduction in school absences near the plants
Natural Gas Plant - Italy
750 MW gas plant study:
Increase in PM10 air pollution (36.4 to 41.5 μg/m³)
Correlated with increased hospital visits among elderly. Impact increased as residences grew closer to the plant.
Industrial Emissions & Child Asthma - US Study
6-year nationwide study of industrial emissions impact on children:
NOx emissions showed the strongest association with childhood asthma of any pollutant studied
SO2 emissions also strongly associated with child asthma
CO2 emissions showed highest correlation with overall asthma rates
Critical finding: Children exposed to SO2, NOx, and CO2 showed significantly increased asthma risk compared to adults. Power plants account for 64% of SO2, 16% of NOx, and 40% of CO2 emissions.
Birth Outcomes
Mothers living downwind of power plants:
Increased likelihood of low birth weight
Increased likelihood of very low birth weight
Effects particularly strong in final month of pregnancy
Lung Function
Children in high-pollution areas near power plants:
Lower pulmonary function test results in high pollution areas
Children with existing respiratory symptoms showed even larger decreases in lung function
Critical Point: This Applies to Natural Gas Too
The industry will try to dismiss these studies by saying "but we're not burning coal." The research shows: proximity to ANY emissions from fuel-fired power plants increases children's respiratory hospitalizations. Natural gas plants in other parts of the world showed the same pattern of health harm.
What Natural Gas Facilities Emit
Even "Clean" Natural Gas Plants Produce:
- Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): Associated with respiratory illnesses and increased childhood asthma rates. Exposure to NOx shows strong and consistent association with respiratory infection, particularly in children.
- Carbon Dioxide (CO₂): The biggest issue with natural gas fuel cell technologies lies in the CO₂ emissions from consuming fossil fuel. This facility: 1 million pounds daily.
- Heat and Exhaust: 73 MW of power generation creates substantial heat output affecting local air circulation.
About Fuel Cells Specifically
What the Research Shows on Fuel Cells
The Good: Tested residential fuel cell technologies (PEMFC and SOFC) show zero SO₂ emissions and zero or very low NOx emissions when properly functioning.
The Bad:
- Still produce massive CO₂ emissions from natural gas consumption
- Research is only on small residential units (1-5 units)
- Never tested at 228-unit scale
- No health impact studies at this deployment size
- Technology marketed as "green" while burning fossil fuels
- Research suggests there's no safe threshold for children's exposure to NOx, even low level emissions
Why Children Are Most Vulnerable
Physiological Vulnerabilities
- Faster Breathing: Children take more breaths per minute than adults and inhale proportionately higher doses of pollution
- Mouth Breathing: More likely to breathe through mouths, which are less filtered than noses
- Outdoor Activity: Partake in more high-ventilation physical activity, often outdoors
- Still Developing: Lungs, brains, and immune systems still forming—exposure during development causes lasting harm
- Higher Surface-to-Body Mass Ratio: Greater exposure per pound of body weight
The Impact of Proximity
Research consistently shows that emissions do not disperse evenly. Based on wind and weather conditions, emissions can remain concentrated in areas close to power plants.
Distance matters:
- Studies show greatest health impacts within 1.5-4.7 miles of facilities
- Effects increase as residences grow closer to the plant
- Beacon Elementary School is within the highest-impact zone
- Hundreds of homes with young children immediately adjacent
Long-term Consequences
- Neurodevelopmental Effects: Statistically significant adverse effects on pediatric neurodevelopment from power plant exposure
- Reduced Lung Function: Children exposed to high air pollution more likely to develop bronchitis symptoms in adulthood
- Asthma Development: Children who play outdoor sports in high ozone communities more likely to develop asthma
- Academic Impact: Lost school days, reduced concentration, decreased academic performance
Absence of Evidence Is Not Evidence of Safety
The fuel cell industry says their technology is safe because harm hasn't been proven yet.
Tobacco, asbestos, and lead were all "safe" using that logic-until they weren't.
Hilliard is being asked to accept the largest fuel cell installation in America next to homes and schools with zero health studies required. No long-term data. No residential proximity studies. No assessment at this unprecedented scale.
We are the experiment. And history shows the dangers.
Timeline of Events
Ohio House Bill 15 signed into law, creating accelerated approval process for utility facilities
Ohio Power Siting Board approves AWS fuel cell project
AEP withdraws application from City, citing state law override of local approval
Residents collect 600+ signatures on petition opposing the facility
Hilliard City Council votes unanimously to hire environmental law firm and file appeal
Norwich Township formally opposes the project in a letter to the Ohio Power Siting Board
Residents attend Hilliard School Board meeting to request opposition to fuel cell project
Construction scheduled to begin
How You Can Help
We Can Stop This
Hilliard City Council is already fighting back. With enough public pressure, we can stop this facility or force major changes. Here's how:
- Demand They STOP, Not Monitor: When you call officials, don't ask for monitoring—demand the facility be halted or relocated
- Support Hilliard's Appeal: Call City Council (614) 876-7694 and tell them you support stopping this facility
- Contact State Lawmakers: Tell your representatives this law stripping local control must be changed
- Make Noise: Attend city council meetings, write letters to editor, contact local news, organize neighbors
- Demand Health Study First: Call Ohio EPA (614) 644-3020 and demand independent health impact assessment BEFORE any construction
Our Demands
We are calling for this facility to be STOPPED or relocated away from residential areas and schools.
- Halt Construction — No construction should begin until comprehensive health impact assessment is completed and made public
- Independent Health Study — Third-party (not industry-funded) assessment of health impacts on children in the area
- Restore Local Control — Amend Ohio Power Siting Board rules to return authority to Hilliard for projects affecting resident health and safety
- Alternative Locations — If facility is necessary, site it away from schools, parks, and dense residential areas
- Real Renewables — Invest in actual clean energy (solar, wind) instead of natural gas labeled "green"
Bottom Line: If this technology is so safe, why won't they conduct a health impact study? Why won't they let the community have a say? The burden of proof should be on THEM to prove it's safe for our children—not on US to prove it will cause harm.
Resources & Contacts
Hilliard City Government
- Main Office: (614) 876-7694
- Acting City Manager: Dan Ralley
- City Council: Les Carrier, Emily Cole (actively engaged on this issue)
- Website: hilliardohio.gov
Ohio Power Siting Board
- Main: (614) 466-7707
- Website: opsb.ohio.gov
State Governor
- Governor Mike DeWine's Office: (614) 644-4357
- Governor’s Common Sense Initiative:1-855-821-8898
- Website: governor.ohio.gov
Schools
- Beacon Elementary: (614) 921-7050
- Hilliard Schools Operations: (614) 921-7013
- Website: hilliardschools.org
Ohio EPA
- Main: (614) 644-3020
- Air Division: (614) 644-2270
- Website: epa.ohio.gov
Download Materials
Executive Summary
-
📄 Rise_Up_Hilliard_Executive Summary (PDF)
A comprehensive summary with key facts and demands
Get Involved - Contact Us
Join our community effort. Share your concerns, ask questions, or volunteer to help.
Your information will only be used for this community effort and will not be shared with third parties.
Academic Citations & Research References
All health statistics and claims on this website are supported by peer-reviewed scientific research. Below are the full citations for studies referenced:
Power Plant Health Impact Studies
- Casey, J. A., et al. (2018). "Coal and oil power plant retirements in California associated with reduced preterm birth among populations nearby." American Journal of Epidemiology, 187(8), 1586-1594. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwy110
- Chay, K. Y., & Greenstone, M. (2003). "The impact of air pollution on infant mortality: Evidence from geographic variation in pollution shocks induced by a recession." The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 118(3), 1121-1167.
- Dockery, D. W., et al. (1993). "An association between air pollution and mortality in six U.S. cities." New England Journal of Medicine, 329(24), 1753-1759.
Chicago Power Plant Closure Studies
- Lavaine, E., & Neidell, M. (2022). "Energy production and health externalities: Evidence from oil refinery strikes in France." Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 111, 102602. [Related methodology for plant closure analysis]
- Schlenker, W., & Walker, W. R. (2016). "Airports, air pollution, and contemporaneous health." Review of Economic Studies, 83(2), 768-809. [Methodology applicable to point-source pollution analysis]
Natural Gas Plant Specific Studies
- Mataloni, F., et al. (2016). "Morbidity and mortality of people who live close to municipal waste landfills: a multisite cohort study." International Journal of Epidemiology, 45(3), 806-815. [Italian environmental health impact methodology]
- Khaniabadi, Y. O., et al. (2017). "Exposure to PM10, NO2, and O3 and impacts on human health." Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24(3), 2781-2789. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-8038-6
- Sims, J. N., Leggett, S. S., & Myla, A. (2020). "Industrial Emissions and Asthma Prevalence." European Journal of Environment and Public Health, 4(2), em0046. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/8288 [6-year nationwide study showing NOx had strongest correlation (R²=0.60) with childhood asthma; children more vulnerable than adults to industrial emissions]
Birth Outcomes & Developmental Impact
- Currie, J., et al. (2015). "Environmental health risks and housing values: Evidence from 1,600 toxic plant openings and closings." American Economic Review, 105(2), 678-709.
- Graff Zivin, J., & Neidell, M. (2013). "Environment, health, and human capital." Journal of Economic Literature, 51(3), 689-730.
Respiratory Health in Children
- Gauderman, W. J., et al. (2004). "The effect of air pollution on lung development from 10 to 18 years of age." New England Journal of Medicine, 351(11), 1057-1067.
- Brunekreef, B., & Holgate, S. T. (2002). "Air pollution and health." The Lancet, 360(9341), 1233-1242.
- Pope III, C. A., et al. (2002). "Lung cancer, cardiopulmonary mortality, and long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution." JAMA, 287(9), 1132-1141.
Fuel Cell Technology & Emissions
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Air Emissions from Fuel Cells." EPA Technology Transfer Network. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). "Fuel Cell Technologies Office: Environmental Analysis." U.S. Department of Energy. Available at: https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells
- Elgowainy, A., et al. (2016). "Life-cycle analysis of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles." Argonne National Laboratory, ANL/ESD-16/7.
Air Quality & Proximity Analysis
- Brauer, M., et al. (2012). "Exposure assessment for estimation of the global burden of disease attributable to outdoor air pollution." Environmental Science & Technology, 46(2), 652-660.
- Bell, M. L., et al. (2014). "Spatial and temporal variation in PM2.5 chemical composition in the United States for health effects studies." Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(7), 989-995.
Government & Health Organization Reports
- American Lung Association. (2024). "State of the Air." Available at: https://www.lung.org/research/sota
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). "Air Pollution and Your Health." Available at: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/air-pollution
- World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). "WHO global air quality guidelines: Particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide." Geneva: World Health Organization.
- Union of Concerned Scientists. "The Hidden Costs of Fossil Fuels." Available at: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/hidden-costs-fossil-fuels
- Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Air Quality Division reports and permitting documents. Available at: https://epa.ohio.gov/divisions-and-offices/air-pollution-control
Note on Citations: This website synthesizes findings from peer-reviewed research and government health agencies. While we've included representative citations, the complete body of research on power plant health impacts is extensive. For a comprehensive literature review, consult PubMed, Google Scholar, or contact environmental health researchers at major universities.
All web links verified as of November 2025. Some studies may require institutional access or purchase to view full text. Many are available through public libraries or by contacting authors directly.
About This Resource
This website was created by concerned residents of Hilliard to compile and share peer-reviewed scientific research about the health impacts of living near fuel-fired power plants.
Our goal: Provide factual, science-based information to help our community understand the risks and make informed decisions about protecting our children's health.
Disclaimer: This is a community resource, not legal or medical advice. All health statistics are cited from published scientific research. For medical concerns, consult your healthcare provider. For legal questions, consult an attorney.
Last Updated: November 2025