Ramaswamy's data center push faces growing Ohio backlash
Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy's vision for Ohio to become a data center hub is meeting significant public opposition, with a Gallup poll showing widespread disapproval of local data centers. A grassroots movement in Adams and Brown counties is gathering signatures for a constitutional amendment to ban large data centers, while at least 15 Ohio communities have already enacted moratoriums.
Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy is promoting a vision to transform Ohio into a major hub for AI data centers and energy infrastructure. However, this plan faces increasing public resistance, with a recent Gallup poll indicating that 71 percent of Americans oppose local data center construction, citing environmental concerns as a primary worry.
Opposition is materializing on the ground in Ohio. A group called Ohio Residents for Responsible Development, originating from Adams and Brown counties, has cleared the Ohio Ballot Board and is now collecting signatures for a constitutional amendment. This amendment aims to ban data centers consuming more than 25 megawatts of power. The group needs over 413,000 valid signatures from at least 44 counties by July 1 to place the measure on the November ballot. Furthermore, at least 15 Ohio communities have already enacted moratoriums on new data center construction.
The push for data centers highlights significant infrastructure demands, with a single hyperscale facility consuming as much electricity as 80,000 to 100,000 homes. Ramaswamy himself has acknowledged rising electricity costs, partly attributing them to data center demand. Water scarcity is also a concern, with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce projecting significant water demand shortfalls in central Ohio by 2040 under current growth models. The job creation argument for data centers is also being scrutinized, with analysis showing a high number of short-term construction jobs but comparatively few permanent positions.
Adding another layer to the political debate, Ramaswamy's asset management firm, Strive, holds a substantial amount of Bitcoin, an energy-intensive cryptocurrency, and he advocates for Bitcoin mining operations in Ohio. The issue is gaining prominence in the close gubernatorial race against Democrat Amy Acton, where public backlash against data center expansion could sway voters across party lines.