Data centers a hot topic in Congressional, state elections
Ace Parsi, a Democratic Congressional challenger in West Virginia, has proposed legislation for a two-year moratorium on large data centers to allow for studies on their impact and grant local communities a say in their construction. This issue is also a key topic in Ohio's gubernatorial election, with candidates presenting differing views on regulating data center development. Political figures in both states are emphasizing the need for local control and addressing concerns about utility costs, environmental impact, and tax burdens related to data centers.
Ace Parsi, a Morgantown community organizer and Democratic challenger for West Virginia's District 2 U.S. House of Representatives seat, has proposed the "Neighbors, Not Servers Act." This legislation would establish a two-year moratorium on new data centers using 20 megawatts or more of power. During this pause, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine would study the facilities' effects on public health, water, jobs, utility bills, property values, and the power grid. The bill also proposes fines of up to $1 million a day for developers violating the pause and aims to ban non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) between developers and public officials, citing concerns from Washington County, Ohio, regarding NDAs for a proposed data center. Furthermore, Parsi's bill would introduce a referendum process, allowing communities to vote on data center approvals after developers disclose crucial project details.
Rep. Riley Moore, the Republican incumbent, expressed support for local control and cosponsored the Ratepayer Protection Act, which requires state public utility commissions to consider standards ensuring large data centers pay the full incremental costs of grid upgrades. Moore emphasized the need for responsible AI development while ensuring West Virginians are not burdened by increased energy and water demands.
The debate extends to Ohio's gubernatorial election, where Democratic nominee Dr. Amy Acton called for a conditional moratorium on data centers. Her proposal includes prohibiting cost-shifting to ratepayers, banning NDAs, requiring union labor, ensuring zero environmental impact, and prioritizing brownfield sites. Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign outlines three non-negotiable requirements for data center companies in Ohio: providing free electricity or compensation to nearby families, paying full property taxes for homeowner relief, and complying with strict air and water quality standards while minimizing water use and prioritizing brownfield/industrial sites.
In West Virginia, the Legislature passed House Bill 2014 in 2025 to attract data centers through streamlined development, regulatory exemptions, a special property tax valuation, and a new tax distribution framework. Gov. Patrick Morrisey also announced a seven-point "Responsible Data Center Development Plan" in August, aimed at balancing infrastructure expansion with the state's natural beauty and residents' well-being. The differing approaches highlight data centers as a significant electoral topic in both states.