Water woes, NDAs highlights of latest Ohio data center hearing
Ohio's Joint Data Center Committee held its second hearing, receiving over four hours of testimony predominantly from activists and environmentalists concerned about data centers' impact. Concerns raised included electricity and water demands, environmental damage, tax incentives, and non-disclosure agreements with local governments. Conserve Ohio, an activist group, is pushing for a statewide constitutional amendment to ban large-scale data centers.
The Ohio Joint Data Center Committee conducted its second hearing, where lawmakers heard over four hours of testimony from researchers, activists, environmentalists, and Ohio residents, including some as young as 12. Most witnesses voiced strong opposition to data centers, citing concerns over their high electricity and water consumption, environmental impacts, and the financial strain from state and local tax incentives. Non-disclosure agreements between data center owners and local governments were also highlighted as an issue.
Nikki Gerber, an organizer with Conserve Ohio and an Adams County resident, emphasized the need for more answers regarding data center development. Conserve Ohio is actively working to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would ban large-scale data centers statewide. Rep. Adam Holmes (R-Nashport) acknowledged the resonance of the concerns raised.
The hearing experienced some tension, particularly when Sen. Brian Chavez (R-Marietta) questioned a witness about potential funding for their testimony, following a Senate Majority caucus news release that suggested data centers were being targeted by foreign interests. Austin Baurichter, an attorney and organizer with Conserve Ohio, refuted these claims, asserting that the activists are local residents. The committee is scheduled for at least three more meetings, with tech giants Meta, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft invited to testify at an upcoming session.