Opinion: Proposed Ohio Constitutional Amendment to Ban New Data Centers

Doug Kelly, CEO of the American Edge Project and a Columbus resident, has penned an opinion piece for The Columbus Dispatch, vehemently opposing a proposed constitutional amendment in Ohio that aims to ban new data centers across the state. Kelly argues that such a ban would represent a drastic departure from Ohio's historical tradition of building infrastructure for economic growth, likening it to previous eras of canals, railroads, and highways. He warns that making Ohio the first state to constitutionally block AI infrastructure would have severe consequences, including the loss of jobs, investment, and Ohio's long-term competitiveness. Kelly highlights the more than $40 billion in data center investments over the past decade, which he claims have generated 170,000 high-paying construction jobs and over $1 billion annually in state and local tax revenue. Furthermore, Kelly asserts that data centers are efficient taxpayers, funding grid upgrades and new power capacity beneficial to the community. He also raises national security concerns, suggesting that such a ban would weaken America's competitive position against China in the global AI race. While acknowledging the need for community input on AI infrastructure development, Kelly contends that a constitutional prohibition would stifle dialogue and surrender Ohio's future. The article implicitly calls for a more responsible approach to building, rather than outright banning, future infrastructure.