Ohioans are fed up with data centers. Pro-AI groups want to change that
Growing concerns over data centers' impact on energy costs and natural resources are dominating Ohio's political landscape, with advocacy groups launching campaigns to influence the debate. Political candidates are taking stances on issues like property tax abatements and utility costs for data centers. Regulators have already approved a tariff requiring large data centers to cover a significant portion of their electricity capacity.
Concerns regarding data centers' impact on energy costs and natural resources are intensifying across Ohio, making the issue a central topic in upcoming political elections. Critics argue that data centers drive up energy demand and electric bills, a sentiment amplified by reports of significant water consumption, such as the 1.2 billion gallons used by Columbus-area data centers in one year.
In response to public backlash, pro-AI and business advocacy groups are initiating substantial campaigns to counteract what they term as misinformation. Build American AI, a national organization, plans to invest $10 million in Ohio and two other states to promote