Ramaswamy: Data centers will pay homeowners’ electric bills, cover property tax rebates
Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has unveiled a plan for data centers in the state, proposing that they cover nearby residents' electricity bills and fund property tax rebates. His plan also includes a temporary halt on new data center approvals until legislation takes effect, and mandates strict environmental regulations for air, water, and farmland protection. Ramaswamy also suggests data centers utilize brownfield sites over fertile farmland.
Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has introduced a comprehensive plan for data center development within the state, aiming to benefit residents without hindering economic growth. In a recent Facebook post, Ramaswamy detailed how his administration would require data centers to pay for the electricity costs of nearby homeowners and fund property tax rebates for those residents.
The proposal includes several key components: a temporary halt on all new data center project approvals in Ohio until specific legislation is enacted, the definition of a "benefit zone" where residents would receive electricity credits from data centers' excess power, and a mandate for data centers to pay 100% of their property taxes without abatements, with these revenues redirected to homeowner tax rebates.
Furthermore, Ramaswamy's plan emphasizes stringent environmental protection, requiring data centers to adhere to all air and water quality standards without special exemptions. He also intends to mandate water recycling and reuse technologies and promote the development of data centers on former industrial sites (brownfields) to protect Ohio's fertile farmland.