en.Wedoany.com Reported - Decimal Digital is advancing the "Project Eagle Ridge," a proposed 100-megawatt (MW) AI data center in Monroeville, Ohio, with a development process emphasizing community engagement and transparency. This shift stems from the village's previous significant challenges with a cryptocurrency mining operation, which left behind unpaid electricity bills and costly power contracts. In response, both Decimal and the village have changed their approaches to seek stronger financial protections and community trust.
Decimal initially operated cryptocurrency mining equipment in Ohio before pivoting to this AI data center project after recognizing the infrastructure potential of the site. CEO Roshan Shah noted that the move to Monroeville was initially seen as a disruption but ultimately evolved into a growth opportunity. Decimal has committed to funding a new 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission line connecting the data center to the Herbert Substation, ensuring local residents bear no costs for these upgrades.
Unlike typical industry practices, Decimal publicly disclosed its engineering plans, transmission strategy, and community presentations before construction began. Shah stated, "We don't believe in non-disclosure agreements (NDAs); we have nothing to hide," highlighting the company's commitment to transparency. This level of disclosure is uncommon in the industry, where developers typically keep project details confidential before making major decisions.
The project is designed to support AI training and inference workloads, accommodating high-density rack configurations. Decimal's cooling approach employs a closed-loop liquid cooling system aimed at reducing water usage while maintaining flexibility for future customer requirements.
As the project seeks further approvals, Decimal emphasizes broader industry lessons: successful digital infrastructure projects require rigorous engineering, sound utility planning, and transparent collaboration with local communities. This evolving landscape suggests that developers must not only secure power supply but also build trust and demonstrate project benefits to local stakeholders.
