Could wind and solar projects have fueled Ohio’s data center growth? Advocacy group says ‘yes’

A new report from the advocacy group Save Ohio Parks contends that Ohio's failure to build out its renewable energy potential has created an "energy crunch" now exacerbated by the rapid growth of data centers. Authored by Rachel Kutzley, a governing board member, the report indicates that over 5.3 gigawatts of wind and solar capacity were never realized due to project withdrawals, regulatory restrictions, and missed development opportunities. This figure is comparable to the 5.6 gigawatts of data center interconnection requests reported by American Electric Power. Ohio currently ranks fifth nationally for data center growth, with over 200 facilities statewide, including more than 130 in the Columbus area. The report links the loss of renewable energy projects to state policy decisions, specifically citing 2019's House Bill 6, which rolled back renewable energy standards, and 2021's Senate Bill 52, which empowered county commissioners to restrict wind and solar development. Public backlash against data center expansion has led several townships in Columbus and Butler County, including Lemon, Milford, Oxford, Morgan, and Ross, to enact moratoriums. Hilliard City Council President Emily Cole affirmed the need for discussions on power usage and policy to protect resources. Save Ohio Parks warns that the energy and water demands of data centers, which currently account for 1.2 gigawatts of Ohio's energy use, could strain the power grid, increase consumer costs, and impact air and water quality. Amidst planned new projects in cities like Trenton, Springfield, Piqua, Sidney, and Wilmington, a proposed data center in Hamilton was paused due to unmet electric demands. The group recommends a moratorium on new data center approvals, prohibiting non-disclosure agreements, mandating 100% renewable energy use for data centers, and updating state energy laws, among other measures to ensure sustainable development.