Ohio leaders clash over data center growth amid cost, environmental concerns

State and local leaders in Ohio are actively discussing and clashing over the rapid growth of data centers and their potential environmental and economic impacts on communities. A recent community discussion in Cincinnati, co-hosted by the Coalition for Responsible Development and the University of Cincinnati’s School of Environment and Sustainability, served as a forum to air these concerns. Casey Putsch, an Ohio gubernatorial candidate, warned that large-scale data centers could significantly raise electricity costs for residents and deplete fresh water sources like Lake Erie and the Ohio River for cooling, raising serious environmental and public health concerns. Conversely, a representative from "DCC" stated that data centers are committed to paying their full cost of service for electricity, engaging with regulators and utilities to ensure fair cost distribution. Amidst these discussions, Trenton City Manager Marcos Nichols revealed that real estate company Prologis purchased 140-144 acres of land in Trenton last spring for a potential data center project, which he views as a positive economic addition. However, U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman has introduced two bills aimed at protecting communities from potential harms. These proposals would require data centers to cover their full energy and infrastructure costs, mandate environmental impact studies, and prohibit nondisclosure agreements for elected officials involved in such projects. Landsman noted that residents are worried about noise, increased property taxes, utility bills, and the lack of transparency surrounding these developments.