COLUMBUS – A group advocating for a ban on large data centers in Ohio is urging lawmakers to approve a 12-month pause on new projects as they return to the Statehouse this week. The call comes amidst rising electricity prices and parallels a legislative discussion about providing a break from the state gas tax.
Conserve Ohio, the group pushing for the ban, stated Wednesday that if lawmakers can ease the strain of high fuel prices before the upcoming election, they should also help Ohioans with high electricity bills. State legislators are convening in Columbus to consider a 90-day pause on the state gas tax, a proposal backed by Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton has also called for a gas tax holiday, though without specifying a 90-day duration. Gas prices have reportedly climbed since the war with Iran began.
Conserve Ohio argues that families need assistance with electric bills. A recent state audit indicates that Ohio’s average electricity price has increased by 34% since 2022. While this rise is not attributed solely to data centers, the growing demand for power from these facilities has contributed to concerns about future utility costs for residents.
Lawmakers previously spent time in the spring examining data centers and attempted to pass new regulations before their summer recess. However, those discussions stalled, partly due to disagreements over the extent of cuts to a state sales tax break for data center companies.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton also publicly supported a data center pause on Wednesday. In a statement, Acton urged lawmakers to come together and address the unchecked development of data centers, which she stated are increasing costs in communities. Her plan proposes blocking new data centers unless they meet specific criteria: paying their own utility costs, using union workers, being built on former industrial sites rather than farmland, and sharing project details with local communities.
When questioned Wednesday about the possibility of lawmakers considering a data center moratorium upon their return, House Speaker Matt Huffman, a Lima Republican, and Senate President Rob McColley, a Henry County Republican who is also a candidate for lieutenant governor, did not confirm they would take up such a measure. Both criticized Acton's call for a "conditional moratorium." Speaker Huffman questioned the conditions Acton referred to, labeling her request "electioneering." President McColley described Acton's proposal as "empty political rhetoric." Huffman further suggested that if Acton's proposal were serious, she would be addressing questions from the press at a podium.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was not asked about data centers on Wednesday. However, he released his own data center plan in August, which includes a promise to halt all new projects until lawmakers mandate new rules. These proposed rules would require data centers to pay the electricity bills for those who live nearby.
Conserve Ohio seeks a more extensive measure than either gubernatorial candidate, advocating for a full year-long halt on all new data center development. The group has encouraged its supporters to attend next week’s legislative session to present their case directly to lawmakers.
In addition to their immediate legislative push, Conserve Ohio is actively collecting signatures for a proposed ballot measure for November 2027. This initiative aims to ban the construction of any data centers that would use more than 25 megawatts of power.
