Inside Ohio’s revolt against data centers

Ohio Lawmakers Review Data Center Proposals Amid Local Concerns

A June hearing before an Ohio legislative committee highlighted divisions over proposed data center projects in the state. The session included testimony from residents, company representatives, and local officials on issues including land use, resource demands, and economic effects.

Nikki Gerber, who operates Moondoggie Liveree, a campground and outdoor recreation business in Adams County, expressed opposition to a planned 1.3-gigawatt Amazon Web Services facility roughly 15 miles from her property. She cited potential effects on local water levels and biodiversity in the Ohio Brush Creek watershed. Gerber stated that the project could alter the character of the area, which she promotes for tourism. Adams County officials did not respond to requests for comment on the proposal.

In Brown County, attorney Austin Baurichter left a position at a Cincinnati law firm and established his own practice. He has worked with Gerber and others through Conserve Ohio, a group advocating for a statewide moratorium on new data center construction. Baurichter has filed public records requests and questioned local officials about project approvals. He has stated that some local governments entered agreements with developers without full information on long-term impacts.

The Ohio General Assembly formed the Select Committee on Data Centers in response to public input. The committee held multiple meetings, including the June 1 session, to receive testimony from residents, industry representatives, and elected officials. Committee co-chair State Rep. Adam Holmes, a Republican, described the panel’s work as a fact-finding effort to balance economic opportunities with concerns about electricity and water costs.

Meta’s data center and energy public policy manager, Thor Underdahl, told the committee that the company aims to operate as a good neighbor in host communities. Amazon Web Services energy and sustainability policy head Craig Sundstrom stated that data center water consumption claims are overstated and that a typical facility uses less water annually than several car washes. He also noted job creation and capital investment associated with the projects.

Ohio ranks among the top states for data center development by number of projects and electricity demand, according to industry analyses from firms including Cushman & Wakefield. The Columbus region, particularly New Albany, has seen significant construction activity. Statewide, data centers support cloud computing and artificial intelligence workloads that have increased in recent years.

Polling conducted by Bowling Green State University’s Democracy and Public Policy Network found that 75 percent of Ohio respondents opposed new data centers in their own communities, 63 percent opposed them anywhere in the state, and 55 percent opposed them anywhere in the United States. As of early October, Conserve Ohio reported collecting approximately 140,000 signatures toward the 410,000 required for a 2027 ballot measure on a moratorium.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton has proposed ending state tax incentives for data centers, increasing transparency requirements, and limiting locations for new facilities in addition to a temporary pause. Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has called for free electricity for residents in communities hosting data centers, strict enforcement of air and water regulations, and a pause until consumer protections are enacted in state law. Both candidates have expressed support for some form of development pause.

A separate large-scale project, Ports Technology Campus in Pike County, involves federal land and is planned for up to 10,000 megawatts of capacity. A natural gas plant would provide 9,200 megawatts, with the remainder from additional sources. The federal government is coordinating with SoftBank on the site, with OpenAI identified as the primary tenant. The project has drawn limited local opposition in Pike County to date.

Local ballot measures on data center restrictions are scheduled in at least 10 Ohio communities in November, according to tracking by Ballotpedia. Similar measures have appeared in other states. Development activity continues in multiple Ohio counties while the legislative committee continues its review.

Residents in southern Ohio counties have organized to monitor project proposals and share information on permitting processes. Company representatives have maintained that facilities undergo environmental reviews and contribute to local tax bases. Holmes indicated that legislators are examining mechanisms to shield ratepayers from potential increases in utility costs linked to high electricity demand.

The committee’s work remains ongoing, with additional hearings planned to assess regulatory options. Data center operators have continued to cite economic benefits including construction employment and ongoing operational staffing. Opponents have continued to raise questions about cumulative effects on water resources and landscape changes in rural areas.