McGrail, Stevens vie for House seat in Ohio’s 61st district
Ohio House District 61 candidates Vince McGrail and Shawn Stevens discussed data center policy in a Knox Pages election questionnaire. Both supported requiring closed-loop cooling systems, while McGrail also called for studying water impacts, protecting residents from higher electricity costs, and ensuring communities have a say in data center projects.
Democrat Vince McGrail and Republican Shawn Stevens are competing for Ohio House District 61, which includes parts of Knox and Delaware counties. In responses to a Knox Pages questionnaire, both candidates addressed the potential effects of data center development in Ohio.
McGrail said the state should pause new data center construction until it understands effects on electricity costs, water systems and the environment. He supported a statewide study of water impacts, requirements for closed-loop or non-evaporative cooling, and legislation requiring developers to cover grid-related costs. Stevens also backed closed-loop cooling and monitoring of water releases, while emphasizing local zoning authority and community input on proposed projects.