Cleveland among the growing list of Ohio communities considering a moratorium on new data centers

Cleveland City Council is evaluating a proposed moratorium on new data center developments within the city, introduced by Councilman Charles Slife. Slife argues that a pause is necessary to allow the city to analyze land use and establish regulations that serve the common good, citing concerns over low job creation, potential strain on Cleveland's already fragile power grid, and the risk of diverting economic development opportunities. He also noted that residents city-wide have expressed opposition to data centers. Slife's proposal comes amidst a statewide and national proliferation of data centers, driven by the increasing demand for AI, streaming, and cloud storage. He voiced skepticism about the Ohio Legislature's ability to address local concerns, suggesting the state holds "outright contempt for the City of Cleveland" and that local regulation is crucial. The debate extends to the state level, with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine advocating for state lawmakers to handle such policy matters, believing the legislature's process is better equipped to consider the nuances. Simultaneously, a bipartisan group of senators, including Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), and Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), are considering requiring new data centers to provide their own electricity sources, to avoid competing with ratepayers for utilities.