Democrat running for Ohio governor calls for conditional moratorium on new data centers
Ohio's Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Amy Acton, is proposing a conditional moratorium on new data centers in the state. She argues that data centers must meet conditions like using union labor, environmental standards, and covering all utility costs, citing concerns about their impact on energy grids and consumer rates. Her stance contrasts with Republican opponent Vivek Ramaswamy, who supports data centers but also emphasizes their need to manage energy demands.
Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, has announced her support for a conditional moratorium on new data center development in the state. Citing concerns over rising utility costs for Ohio families and businesses, Acton stated that data centers must meet specific criteria to operate in Ohio. These conditions, detailed by her running mate David Pepper, include employing 100% union labor for construction, adhering to stringent environmental standards, signing community benefit agreements, and fully covering all utility costs, ideally by providing their own energy sources. Transparency, free from non-disclosure agreements, is also a key demand.
Acton's stance contrasts with her Republican opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, who has generally expressed support for data centers, though he also advocates for them to manage their own energy needs, including through nuclear power. Ramaswamy's campaign spokesman, Evan Machan, criticized Acton for echoing ideas Ramaswamy has championed for months. Ramaswamy has received endorsements from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, a proponent of data center development in the state, and financial contributions from data-center-linked companies.
An analysis by Innovation Ohio, a left-leaning think tank, suggests Ramaswamy's personal investment portfolio includes segments of the data center supply chain, such as chip manufacturers and tech companies operating data centers. The next Ohio governor will significantly influence data center development through appointments to entities like JobsOhio, the Ohio Power Siting Board, and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), which are instrumental in approving energy infrastructure and regulating utilities.