Ohio gubernatorial candidates propose conflicting data center policies
Ohio's two gubernatorial candidates, Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy, have unveiled conflicting proposals for future data center development in the state. Acton supports a conditional moratorium tied to specific requirements, while Ramaswamy advocates for free electricity and lower property taxes for residents near data centers. Meanwhile, a grassroots organization is collecting signatures for a 2027 ballot initiative to ban new data centers statewide.
The upcoming Ohio gubernatorial election features contrasting viewpoints from candidates Dr. Amy Acton (Democrat) and Vivek Ramaswamy (Republican) regarding the future of data centers in the state. The next governor will appoint the five members of the Public Utilities Commission, which is responsible for setting utility rates and parameters for data centers.
Dr. Amy Acton announced her support for a conditional moratorium on data centers if specific requirements concerning costs, union labor, transparency, environmental standards, community benefit agreements, and development are not met. Innovation Ohio, a progressive policy advocacy group, praised Acton's proposal for its focus on environmental protection, water conservation, and fair labor practices, asserting it would level the playing field for Ohioans.
Vivek Ramaswamy, on the other hand, proposed a three-part plan on August 6th: residents near new data centers would receive free home electricity, pay lower property taxes, and data centers would be mandated to adhere strictly to air and water quality standards while protecting fertile farmland. Ramaswamy stated that if any of these conditions are not met, the data center would not be built. Innovation Ohio president Michael McGovern criticized Ramaswamy's plan as "utter nonsense" and lacking policy research, pointing out Ramaswamy's financial interests in the AI chip and data center industries.
Ohio currently hosts over 200 data centers, ranking sixth nationally, with most located in central Ohio, including 26 in Cincinnati and 22 in Cleveland. Despite the growing presence and increasing electricity costs for Ohioans, lawmakers at the Ohio Statehouse have yet to pass specific data center legislation. A grassroots organization, Conserve Ohio, is actively collecting signatures for a proposed constitutional amendment to ban new data centers, aiming for the 2027 ballot.