Ohio's data centers face growing backlash, and it's warranted

The article examines the growing backlash against data centers in Ohio, noting that this is a bipartisan issue nationwide. The article traces the evolution of data centers from small, compact facilities to massive, electricity-hungry concrete buildings. Ohio has become an attractive location for data centers due to its strong electric infrastructure and lack of natural disasters. However, the author argues that the economic benefits of data centers are limited, with think tank studies failing to stand up to scrutiny. The author points to the example of a large data center occupying 350 acres with just 70 jobs, compared to a nearby industrial park with 2,070 jobs on the same amount of land. The article cites concerns from the Ohio Manufacturers Association that data centers are not to blame for rising power rates, but rather issues with the state's electricity rate bidding system that favors reporting higher demand. There are also risks that technology improvements could reduce data centers' electricity needs, potentially leaving stranded infrastructure investments. The author suggests that Ohio communities should make informed decisions with long-term economic impact in mind when considering data center projects, rather than simply incentivizing their development. The article concludes that the backlash against data centers is warranted and is not going away.