Ohio legislature launches new committee focused on data center concerns

The Ohio General Assembly has established a new Joint Data Center Committee to study the economic, environmental, and security impacts of data center development across the state. Co-chaired by House Energy Committee Chair Rep. Adam Holmes (R-Nashport) and Senate Energy Committee Chair Sen. Brian Chavez (R-Marietta), the eight-member committee aims to provide accurate information to Ohio voters regarding data center issues. The committee's formation follows growing public discontent, including a citizen constitutional amendment effort that proposes to prohibit data centers with a monthly aggregate demand exceeding 25 megawatts. This amendment has received approval from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and the Ohio Ballot Board, allowing it to proceed with signature collection for a statewide ballot. Rep. Holmes acknowledged public concerns about data centers' "exorbitant" water usage, negative land and wildlife impacts, emissions, and effects on energy costs. The committee expects testimony from major industry players like Meta, Google, and Amazon. Sen. Willis Blackshear, Jr. (D-Dayton), one of the two Democrats on the committee, expressed optimism that the committee would be responsive to a broad range of issues, not just economic arguments for data centers. The chairs clarified that the committee's purpose is to inform, not to influence voter calculus on the proposed ban.