HANNIBAL, Ohio — Plans for a major high-performance computing (HPC) data center at the former Ormet property in Monroe County are facing a legal challenge from a neighboring industrial tenant.
American Heavy Plate Solutions (AHP), a steel fabrication company operating at the Hannibal Industrial Park, has filed a lawsuit against Bitdeer Technologies and the Monroe County Port Authority in Monroe County Common Pleas Court.
According to court documents, AHP alleges that Bitdeer’s proposed HPC data center project would interfere with infrastructure critical to its operations, including electrical systems, utilities, communications lines, road access and rail connections.
AHP leases approximately 9.9 acres within the 100-acre industrial park under a 30-year lease agreement signed in 2018. The company argues that its lease includes protections preventing the property owner from leasing land to another tenant whose activities could negatively affect its business operations without AHP’s written consent.
The lawsuit claims AHP was never asked to provide consent for Bitdeer’s lease agreement or development plans.
Bitdeer announced in 2024 that it had secured a 30-year lease with the Monroe County Port Authority and access to up to 570 megawatts of power at the site. The company has identified the Hannibal location as a priority project for future high-performance computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Court filings indicate AHP has invested more than $100 million in equipment, improvements and operations at the facility and contends that portions of the shared infrastructure located outside its leased footprint are protected under the lease agreement.
The lawsuit seeks a court declaration regarding the lease terms, an injunction that could halt construction of the proposed data center, and additional relief to protect AHP’s rights under the lease.
Bitdeer recently acknowledged in a business update that the timing of power availability and construction at the Hannibal site could be affected by the ongoing litigation.
The Monroe County Port Authority purchased the former Ormet property in 2021. The site has been the focus of redevelopment efforts due to its significant industrial infrastructure and power capacity.
The case remains pending in Monroe County Common Pleas Court.
