Conditional moratorium proposed for data centers
Ohio gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton and Lt. Governor candidate David Pepper have proposed a conditional moratorium on data centers. The moratorium would require data center companies to cover 100% of utility costs, use union labor, and operate with full transparency, including a ban on non-disclosure agreements with public officials. This proposal aims to address concerns about high energy costs, job quality, environmental impact, and secrecy in data center development across Ohio.
Ohio gubernatorial Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton and her running mate for Lieutenant Governor, David Pepper, have announced support for a conditional moratorium on data center development in Ohio. This proposal aims to address widespread concerns among Ohioans regarding soaring energy costs, which they attribute in part to data centers. Pepper emphasized that the moratorium would require data center companies to meet several strict conditions to operate in the state.
Key conditions include demanding that data centers cover 100% of their utility costs, ideally by bringing their own energy sources. Another critical requirement is that all jobs involved in building, maintaining, and upgrading data centers must be unionized, providing stable employment for Ohio residents rather than relying on temporary or out-of-state independent contractors.
Transparency is a major pillar of the proposed moratorium, with a strong stance against non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in data center deals. Pepper highlighted that many past projects have been shrouded in secrecy, preventing citizens from understanding the impact on their communities. The Acton-Pepper ticket insists that all business dealings must be open and transparent, stating that companies unwilling to comply should seek opportunities in other states.
The candidates also mentioned environmental concerns, stressing that data centers should not degrade environmental quality or reduce the water table. Pepper noted that the ban on NDAs has bipartisan support, citing a Republican state representative from Brown County who also opposed secret deals. The goal is to establish clear guardrails to protect Ohio citizens and ensure that data center development benefits the community without imposing undue costs or environmental burdens.