Clermont County Commissioner David Painter will chair a federal advisory panel whose first task is helping local governments navigate the wave of AI data center proposals sweeping the country.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin named Painter chair of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Local Government Advisory Committee for a one-year term starting Sept. 1, the county announced Aug. 16. Zeldin cited Painter's experience in national municipal organizations and the private sector.
The 22-member LGAC advises the EPA administrator on how federal environmental decisions affect cities, counties and townships. The panel includes 13 new appointees and nine returning members representing elected and appointed officials nationwide.
Its first agenda item: challenges local governments face when siting and developing AI infrastructure and data centers in a sustainable manner, the Clermont Guardian reported. That discussion is expected at a virtual public meeting in September, with the exact date to be published in the Federal Register.
Painter said in a statement that balancing environmental regulation with responsible development is the committee's top priority. "This is our number one goal," he said.
Why it matters locally
The appointment comes as data center zoning is already a live issue in the area. According to a participant's account posted on social media, Loveland City Council discussed data center zoning at an April 14 meeting, where it was noted the city's proposed general commercial zoning does not currently allow data centers. A follow-up study session was planned for Sept. 1.
The issue is not unique to Loveland. Nationally, local opposition blocked or delayed at least 75 data center projects worth roughly $130 billion in the first quarter of 2026, according to Forbes. A Gallup survey fielded in March found 71% of Americans oppose a data center in their community.
Painter's background
Painter serves as vice president of the Clermont County Board of Commissioners and is the most recent past president of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio. Before public office, he managed engineering and construction projects in the private sector.
He has been active on environmental issues closer to home. In June, Painter and the board served a formal Notice of Intent to Sue under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act over coal ash contamination at the former Beckjord Station in New Richmond, citing drinking-water risks for roughly 145,000 Clermont County residents.
The county also set a record with 6,156 building permits issued in 2025, its third consecutive annual record.
How to weigh in
The September virtual public meeting date has not yet been published. Residents can watch for the Federal Register notice at federalregister.gov, which will include the meeting time and instructions for public comment.
