Ohio's data center surge faces local resistance
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Ohio's data center surge isn't slowing down any time soon.
By the numbers: About 200 centers are currently operational and around 100 more planned or under construction, per an analysis shared with Axios in December.
- Over half of existing centers are in the Columbus area.
Friction point: Big Tech is full steam ahead on building as many centers as possible to generate revenue and power the AI boom.
- That growth is increasingly fueling political fights, while locals are pushing back over concerns about energy use, tax breaks and few permanent jobs created.
Zoom in: At least 18 Ohio communities have enacted or considered temporary moratoriums to pause development, including two Dublin-area townships and the Pickaway County village of Ashville, the Ohio Newsroom reports.
- The city of Hilliard is also fighting back against an AEP Ohio fuel cell project to power new Amazon centers.
What we're watching: A flurry of related activity at the Statehouse.
- A group of state representatives, mostly Republicans, have proposed House Bill 646 to create a commission to study data center growth.
- But Senate Democrats are planning a slate of bills to rein it in — including eliminating Ohio's sales tax exemption for data center equipment.
Meanwhile, AEP Ohio's data center tariff enacted last year continues to ignite debate.
- The bipartisan House Bill 706 would extend it to electric companies statewide, aiming to curb passing data center costs onto customers.
- The Ohio Manufacturers' Association is challenging the tariff in the Ohio Supreme Court.

