This area is ‘water-rich’ but poor in power: A study highlights southwest Ohio data center challenge
A study by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation indicates that data center growth in the Cincinnati-Dayton corridor is constrained by energy infrastructure, not water supply, a challenge notably absent in the Columbus region. A proposed data center in Hamilton was paused due to power requirements, and townships in Butler County have enacted moratoriums on new developments. Statewide, a constitutional amendment to ban large data centers is being proposed amidst growing public opposition.
A new study released by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation on June 8 reveals that the Cincinnati-Dayton corridor's data center growth will be predominantly dictated by energy infrastructure, where it significantly lags behind the Columbus region. The study found that while both areas possess ample water resources for near-term expansion, future growth through 2030 hinges on power availability, infrastructure readiness, stormwater management, utility coordination, and public acceptance. The Cincinnati-Dayton corridor currently has approximately 65 megawatts of available energy capacity, starkly contrasting with Columbus's roughly 1.9 gigawatts.
Specific challenges are already emerging, with Edwin Porter, Hamilton’s executive director of infrastructure, stating that a proposed data center in Hamilton has been paused because the city could not meet its 45 MW power requirements within the project's 30-month timeline. Meanwhile, utilities like Duke Energy and AES Ohio either had no comment or did not respond to inquiries regarding the report's findings. Despite power limitations, southwest Ohio boasts a robust water supply from the Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer, though water quality concerns and wastewater discharge permits from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency remain potential issues.
Opposition to rapid data center expansion is mounting statewide. Critics, including the nonprofit Save Ohio Parks, warn that demand could outpace energy supply, pointing to 5.3 gigawatts of unbuilt renewable energy projects and potential overbuilding risks. Several townships, including some in Butler County, have already adopted moratoriums on new data center development due to resident concerns about noise, property values, and infrastructure strain. At the state level, a proposed constitutional amendment to ban data centers larger than 25 megawatts is seeking over 413,000 signatures to qualify for the November ballot.