What Ohio’s Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates say about data centers
Ohio's gubernatorial candidates, Democrat Amy Acton and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, have both outlined plans to impose new restrictions on data center development across the state. Acton proposes a conditional moratorium tied to developer requirements like covering utility costs and using union labor, while Ramaswamy advocates for an "Ohioans-First" pledge including free electricity for nearby residents and full property taxes for new facilities.
Ohio's leading gubernatorial candidates, Democrat Amy Acton and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, have both unveiled distinct policy proposals aimed at regulating the burgeoning data center industry within the state. Their stances come amid growing local concerns regarding the environmental and economic impacts of these large computing facilities across Ohio.
Amy Acton, following a campaign stop in Marietta, advocated for a "conditional moratorium" on new data center construction. Her plan, detailed on her campaign website, requires developers to cover 100% of utility costs, employ union labor, operate with full transparency, and adhere to Ohio's air and water quality standards. Acton also seeks to end non-disclosure agreements between developers and local governments, reign in tax incentives with clawback provisions, and mandate that new facilities be built on brownfield sites over farmland.
Vivek Ramaswamy, through his "Ohioans-First Data Center Pledge" shared on social media and his campaign website, proposed his own set of "non-negotiable" requirements. These include providing free electricity to nearby residents, requiring new facilities to pay full property taxes (with revenue funding homeowner rebates), and meeting strict air and water quality standards while prioritizing brownfield development. Ramaswamy stated he would issue an executive order on his first day in office to temporarily halt new project approvals until his legislation passes. He also outlined a mechanism for free electricity, involving data centers selling excess power back to the grid, crediting residents in a "benefit zone."
Ramaswamy has emphasized that his plan for protecting ratepayers predates Acton's, arguing his proposal goes further by aiming to eliminate residential electric bills near new facilities.