Ohio's data center surge faces local resistance
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
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.