'They have questions that deserve answers': Ohio bill to create Data Center Study Com­mission passes House

Ohio lawmakers are actively pursuing legislation to regulate the rapidly growing data center industry, driven by constituent concerns over the impact of these facilities. House Bill 646, introduced by Representatives Gary Click (R-Vickery) and Kellie Deeter (R-Norwalk), unanimously passed the Ohio House. This bill proposes the creation of the Ohio Data Center Study Commission, an unprecedented body tasked with examining data centers' economic impact, infrastructure needs, energy and water consumption, local zoning, and the potential for a statewide permitting process. The commission's findings will inform future policy decisions. Concurrently, other data center-related legislation is progressing. Senate Bill 378, known as the Responsible Water Use by Data Centers Act, was introduced by Senators Willis Blackshear Jr. (D-Dayton) and Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) to mandate that data centers cover all infrastructure costs related to their water and sewer usage. Additionally, House Bill 706 aims to ensure that existing Ohio customers are not burdened with the infrastructure upgrade costs associated with these facilities. Ohio Senate Democrats have also held a press conference to advocate for bipartisan collaboration on such legislation. The Office of the Ohio Consumers Counsel notes approximately 200 data centers in the state, primarily in central Ohio, highlighting that hyperscale data centers can consume vast amounts of energy and millions of gallons of water daily, necessitating significant grid upgrades. While acknowledging the industry's economic benefits and job creation, lawmakers emphasize the need for proactive, informed decisions to manage its implications for the electric grid, infrastructure, and local communities.