Ohioans are getting fed up with data centers, state lawmakers are starting to notice

Residents of Hilliard, Ohio are raising concerns about Amazon's plan to build a 73-megawatt fuel cell project to power a nearby data center. Neighbors Annie Cannelongo and Annette Singh say they were not properly notified and are worried about the project's impacts on the surrounding community, including a nearby park and playground. The proposed fuel cell would be the largest of its kind in North America. Ohio is grappling with growing demand for electricity from data centers, and lawmakers have passed legislation allowing data centers to bypass local review and generate their own on-site power. This has angered some local officials and residents who want more oversight and input. Several bills have been introduced in the Ohio legislature, including measures to eliminate tax breaks for data centers, impose environmental safeguards, and create a study commission to examine the impact of data centers on issues like utility rates and wastewater. Some lawmakers have also considered temporary moratoriums on new data center projects, though these proposals face legal uncertainty. The debate in Ohio reflects growing tensions over the rapid expansion of the data center industry and its effects on local communities.