Property rights group launches Ohio data center campaign
The Texas-based Private Property Rights Institute has launched its Buildout America campaign in Ohio and five other states to promote landowners’ ability to sell or develop property for data centers. The campaign comes as Ohio communities debate data center impacts, including noise, energy and water use, pollution and neighborhood development limits.
The Private Property Rights Institute, led by president Charlie Kolean, launched Buildout America to advocate for landowners who want to develop or sell property for data center projects. The campaign targets Ohio, Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Nevada and Utah, and plans to engage state lawmakers and facilitate discussions between data center companies and communities.
The campaign faces growing opposition in Ohio, where communities are considering restrictions and temporary blocks on data center development. Residents, including Hocking Township resident David Holley, cited nighttime noise and concerns about energy, water use, light pollution and other potential effects, while Kolean argued that landowners should have greater control over their property and a chance to benefit from data center and AI-related economic development.