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Last Update: 10/27/2026 at 5:34 AM EST
Ohio Data Center Expansion
Coverage from Indianapolis Star, The Columbus Dispatch, and others
Ohio’s data-center buildout, concentrated in part around Columbus, reflects demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence while bringing large facilities into communities across the state.
Local governments have faced questions about zoning, farmland, public hearings, and project impacts, while state officials and legislators have debated tax exemptions, permitting, and how new power infrastructure and electricity costs should be handled. Supporters emphasize investment and economic development; residents and critics raise concerns about water use, grid capacity, pollution, noise, and whether communities receive lasting benefits. Together, these issues make data-center development a question of infrastructure and local choice as well as economic policy.
Key Articles5 of 329 articles
If you read one thing
Its broad Q&A framing introduces the linked siting, tax, power, and environmental issues shaping Ohio’s data-center debate.
The local angle
Wilmington’s approvals, litigation, and referendum effort show how local siting decisions can advance while remaining contested.
The evidence
It explains why disagreement over tax incentives and cost allocation stalled HB 646 and left statewide policy unsettled.
The evidence
Its reported water-use figures and account of incomplete records give concrete evidence of the disclosure and planning challenge.
Latest development
This recent report connects election debate to voter opposition, electricity costs, and other community concerns.
Key Issues
Local siting remains contested through zoning, moratoriums, litigation, and ballots
Ohio communities are using moratoriums, conditional-use rules, litigation, and referendum efforts to shape data-center approvals. Some proposals have nevertheless advanced through local zoning, leaving outcomes dependent on local decisions and legal process.
Statewide rules and incentive policy remain unsettled
Ohio’s statewide framework remains unresolved: HB 646 stalled amid disagreement over tax incentives and cost allocation, while HB 983 proposes broader local and utility protections. Tax incentives and development requirements remain subjects of legislative conflict rather than settled policy.
Water oversight is shifting toward disclosure and case-by-case review
Facility-level water use remains difficult to establish where records are incomplete or redacted, while local proposals seek reporting and infrastructure protections. Ohio has moved away from a statewide wastewater permit toward individual permits, leaving water impacts to project-specific review.
Grid costs and responsibility for large loads remain contested
Data-center demand is linked to concerns about electricity bills and constrained supply, but the extent of consumer costs and who should fund generation and grid connections remain disputed. Proposals for facilities to provide power or bear more infrastructure costs have not resolved that allocation.
Data-center policy is an electoral issue
Data-center costs and development limits are part of Ohio’s 2026 campaign debate. Polling cited in coverage shows substantial voter opposition, putting pressure on candidates to address the issue alongside arguments about investment and economic benefits.
Strengthening
Key Numbers
138 municipalities and townships
active data-center moratoriums
“At least 138 Ohio municipalities and townships had active moratoriums on data centers as of Sept. 17, according to local government records and news reports. Another 23 communities have effectively banned data centers, while at least 23 more across seven counties are considering similar proposals.”
six months to a year duration
potential moratorium duration
““Speed to market is essential,” Roychoudhury said. Moratoriums lasting six months to a year may prompt developers to choose other states.”
16 million gallons
daily water entitlement
“In late 2025, the 12,000-acre business park consumed about 9 million gallons of water per day—approximately 56% of the 16 million gallons it is entitled to under a Columbus water service plan approved in 2015. That plan predates the area's emergence as a data center hub.”
approximately 56% percent
share of water entitlement consumed
“In late 2025, the 12,000-acre business park consumed about 9 million gallons of water per day—approximately 56% of the 16 million gallons it is entitled to under a Columbus water service plan approved in 2015. That plan predates the area's emergence as a data center hub.”
about 9 million gallons per day
New Albany International Business Park water consumption
“In late 2025, the 12,000-acre business park consumed about 9 million gallons of water per day—approximately 56% of the 16 million gallons it is entitled to under a Columbus water service plan approved in 2015. That plan predates the area's emergence as a data center hub.”
Looking Back
158 Day Timeline
May 8
Jun 5
Jun 26
Jul 24
Aug 21
Sep 11
Oct 9
The Story So Far
No material change
No material change since the prior state: new reporting adds polling and cost estimates to the established picture of voter opposition, electricity-cost concerns, and data centers as an Ohio campaign issue.
Previously
Ohio's rapid data center buildout is prompting coordinated scrutiny of tax incentives, electricity costs, land use, and local environmental impacts. The state has paused new tax-exemption applications while lawmakers review the industry's effects, and communities are pursuing moratoriums, zoning changes, litigation, and ballot measures; some are instead adopting rules that allow development under conditions.
History
10/13/2026
The dispute has moved into Ohio’s 2026 campaign debate, while a major legislative proposal stalled and utility constraints have halted at least one project. These developments add political stakes and a concrete project setback to the existing local and state scrutiny.
All Articles329 articles
Important
University of Notre Dame student investigators found in 2025 that Amazon Web Services expansion near New Carlisle, Indiana, could significantly stress the Kankakee Aquifer.
8/13/2026 • Water & Cooling • General
Columbus, Ohio released cooling-water figures for local data centers, reporting about 1.26 billion gallons annually and projected Intel demand through 2031-2032.
7/10/2026 • Water & Cooling • General
Ohio House legislators introduced House Bill 983 last week in Ohio to require local voter approval and impose environmental and fiscal controls on large data center projects.
8/6/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Google data centers in New Albany and Columbus consumed more than 1.4 billion gallons of water in 2025, prompting central Ohio officials to consider disclosure, pricing, and recycled-wastewater measures.
9/16/2026 • Water & Cooling • General
Christopher Wyche proposed Columbus, Ohio data center regulations at a public hearing, requiring water plans, decommissioning plans, and sewer permitting with infrastructure upgrades.
7/22/2026 • Water & Cooling • General
Columbus Water & Power, with plans for spring 2027 procurement, explored using recycled water from the Southerly Treatment Plant for nearby data center cooling instead of potable water.
7/13/2026 • Water & Cooling • General
Columbus Water & Power reported data center water use of about 1.26 billion gallons over 12 months and outlined treatment-plant upgrades and recycled-water planning through 2032.
7/6/2026 • Water & Cooling • General
Ohio utilities and regulators are evaluating how expanding data centers, including PORTS-Pike in Pike County and an Amazon Web Services proposal near Trenton, could affect electricity costs and grid infrastructure.
9/4/2026 • Power Procurement & Grid • General
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and West Virginia officials pursued differing data center rules and incentives in 2026 as residents opposed projects over costs, environmental impacts, and limited local control.
8/27/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Ben Murray and Manchester, Ohio residents used township hearings and a PJM site request to challenge a proposed data center, resulting in a one-year pause and moratoriums in 2026.
5/28/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Perry Village voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to impose bonds and noise limits on tax-incentivized hyperscale data centers in Perry, Ohio.
9/20/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Pierce Township officials in Clermont County, Ohio, extended an eight-month data center moratorium through May 2027 while reviewing a proposed 300-megawatt facility near the former Beckjord power plant.
9/11/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Wilmington petitioners are seeking a November referendum and court approval to challenge emergency ordinances authorizing Amazon's proposed data center in Wilmington, Ohio.
9/11/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Resident Rachel Brooks sued Wilmington over the city council's immediate emergency rezoning of more than 470 acres for an Amazon Web Services data center.
9/8/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Wilmington City Council approved AWS campus zoning ordinances in Wilmington, Ohio, while a resident challenged emergency enactment and referendum restrictions in court.
9/4/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Crane Data Centers proposed a 300-megawatt campus in Pierce Township, Ohio, with zoning and township review continuing on October 6, 2026.
9/2/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
The Ohio Supreme Court ordered Ashville officials to submit petitions for a possible fall referendum on EdgeConneX data centers and a natural gas plant in Ashville, Ohio.
8/17/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Grove City Council is expected Monday to certify a resident-backed charter amendment for Franklin County's November ballot, requiring referendums on qualifying large developments.
8/16/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Ohio EPA abandoned a proposed statewide data-center wastewater permit after more than 7,000 Ohio residents and organizations submitted comments opposing reduced oversight.
7/29/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Akron City Council approved a July 27 zoning amendment requiring conditional-use approval for data centers and applicant disclosures on grid, water, sewer, and noise impacts.
7/27/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Amy Acton proposed a conditional moratorium on new Ohio data centers requiring self-paid utility costs, union labor, and brownfield siting.
7/27/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Christopher Wyche held a July 22 Columbus hearing on draft data center water and sewer rules, with residents and advocates requesting stronger environmental limits and incentive bans.
7/23/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Ohio EPA in Ohio rejected a blanket NPDES general permit for data-center wastewater discharges on Tuesday and will consider projects through individual permits.
7/22/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Ohio EPA rejected a proposed statewide NPDES general permit for data center wastewater discharges after more than 7,000 public comments, requiring individual project permitting in Ohio.
7/21/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Ohio EPA in Columbus announced a decision on NPDES permitting for data centers after nearly nine months and 7,000 public comments.
7/21/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Ohio EPA announced July 21 that a proposed general wastewater discharge permit for some data centers would be scrapped, with future approvals handled case by case.
7/21/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
McDonald, Ohio residents asked for public meetings and data center siting guidelines in advance of potential data center interest, emphasizing health and former McDonald Steel property concerns.
7/17/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Cleveland City Council voted in 2020s to pause standalone data center development for three months, directing staff to draft zoning rules for Cleveland-area sites.
7/16/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Akron planning commission voted 5-0 to revise zoning so data centers need conditional-use permits, with a public hearing set for July 27.
7/11/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
A federal judge ordered Wilmington, Ohio, to redo AWS zoning ordinances in response to resident challenges to Ohio open-meetings public notice procedures.
7/11/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Federal court in Cincinnati temporarily blocks Wilmington, Ohio from approving Amazon’s Apollo data center ordinances after findings on public notice and the Open Meetings Act.
7/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
A Wilmington, Ohio judge ruled against city approvals for an Amazon data center on public-notice and public-input grounds and ordered a restart.
7/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Akron Planning Commission approved July 10 zoning changes for data centers, moving the proposal to City Council after July 27 hearings to assess grid, water, sewer, and noise impacts.
7/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Homeowners and Wilmington officials dispute Ohio open meetings law compliance for zoning changes tied to Amazon's planned data center in Wilmington as a federal judge hears the case in Cincinnati.
7/8/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Akron, Ohio proposed a conditional zoning review for data centers through Planning Commission and City Council approvals starting with a July ordinance consideration.
6/25/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Greater Cincinnati communities in Ohio weighed data center proposals through moratoriums and zoning code changes, citing infrastructure capacity, water use, and PJM-linked electricity rate concerns.
6/25/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Akron, Ohio plans a July 10 Planning Commission review of a zoning ordinance requiring conditional approval for data centers with electricity, water, backup power, and noise disclosures.
6/25/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Ohio lawmakers failed to pass Substitute House Bill 646 before summer recess, leaving proposed data center sales tax, water, and electric rate changes unresolved.
6/11/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Ohio House Bill 646 stalled in the statehouse after disputes over reducing data center sales tax exemptions, power cost responsibility, and water-use tracking provisions.
6/11/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Ohio lawmakers advance House Bill 646 in the Senate Energy Committee to adjust future data center sales tax incentives while leaving Kasich-era contracts largely unchanged.
6/9/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Bitdeer and Geis Cos. outline a 257-acre Shalersville Township, Ohio data center campus proposal amid a permitting moratorium until early November.
5/28/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Cleveland officials seek a three-month to one-year moratorium on data-center zoning permits during zoning-code updates, affecting H5 and Lakeland projects.
5/16/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Lakeland Equity Group filed plans on May 5 for a 150 MW hyperscale data center in Cleveland's Slavic Village as City Council debates a moratorium timing decision.
5/11/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Lima City Council approved an 18-month moratorium on data center construction and new external water requests in Lima, Ohio, while officials develop updated standards.
9/15/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce reported in Ohio that projected data center growth through 2030 will represent a small share of regional water use, while wastewater oversight and planning need improvement.
6/18/2026 • Water & Cooling • General
The Ohio Supreme Court on September 18 blocked a Wilmington ballot measure regulating Amazon Web Services' planned campus, while federal litigation continued to restrict local site-plan approval.
9/22/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Ohio candidates and residents are contesting rapid data-center expansion and its local costs in 2025, particularly around New Albany and proposed rural sites.
9/29/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Danny Caine and Joe Cuccio documented New Albany, Ohio, data centers and power infrastructure during an August visit, examining public access, security and community impacts.
9/17/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Oxford Township residents opposed a proposed 250-megawatt hyperscale data center in Ohio, prompting township trustees to table the project after a contentious public meeting.
8/28/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Amazon Web Services and Prologis are constructing a 250-megawatt data center in Trenton, Ohio, prompting resident concerns about transparency, water, and local impacts.
8/11/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
St. Bernard officials in Ohio began reviewing a 12-month data center moratorium on Aug. 27 that could affect an unidentified tenant proposed for the former Ivorydale factory complex.
8/28/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Michael J. Morell said Cleveland should reject a three-month data center permit moratorium and continue permitting with clear standards, citing U.S. AI investment competitiveness.
7/12/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Hamilton County decision-makers in Chattanooga are urged to improve data center permitting standards and use an energy performance framework.
7/11/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Dayton, Ohio city leaders approved zoning code amendments restricting large-scale data centers, increasing local control over future data center locations.
6/28/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
McDonald Village Council voted unanimously Wednesday in McDonald, Ohio, to impose a 12-month data center moratorium after residents opposed Oppidan's proposed redevelopment.
9/16/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Miamisburg City Council voted unanimously on September 1, 2026, to impose a nine-month data center development moratorium in Miamisburg, Ohio, amid concerns about a potential Hutchings Power Station facility.
9/2/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Trenton petitioners appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court after Trenton City Council rejected a data-center ban ballot initiative over competing signature requirements.
8/8/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
The Ohio Supreme Court ordered Ashville officials to submit residents' referendum petitions concerning two EdgeConneX data centers and a natural gas plant for possible fall ballot review.
8/8/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Pataskala City Council plans to decide whether a proposed data center restriction reaches voters after Licking County officials disputed organizers' signature total and eligibility.
8/1/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Willoughby City Council is considering a one-year data center moratorium in Willoughby, Ohio, while officials await state guidance on local regulation.
7/31/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Saadia Holding LLC investigated a proposed Athens County, Ohio data center site in July, requesting guidance on zoning variance, subdivision review, and closed-loop cooling water needs.
7/23/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Ohio EPA said it will end a statewide NPDES permitting streamlining proposal for data centers after significant opposition in Ohio.
7/22/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Lakeland Equity Group filed a Cleveland permit for a 150 MW Slavic Village hyperscale data center as Mayor Justin Bibb and City Council weigh a moratorium.
5/8/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
During the 2026 campaign debate in Ohio, residents, candidates and local officials contested data center growth over electricity costs, water, emissions, land use and disclosure.
10/12/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
In May 2026, Wharton Equity Partners terminated its proposed data center project on city-owned land in Hamilton, Ohio, after studies found the municipal power system could not reliably support the requested capacity.
9/29/2026 • Power Procurement & Grid • General
Ohio residents, local officials, and industry advocates are debating data-center siting, resource demands, and public costs as proposals expand across Ohio, especially in Grove City.
9/15/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Grove City Council in Ohio considered a charter amendment requiring voter approval for large data centers, including Stream Data Centers' proposed campus, before a potential November ballot.
9/3/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
The Ohio Power Siting Board held a Millersport hearing on Advanced Power's proposed dedicated gas plant for Vantage's OH2 data center amid local pollution concerns.
8/20/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Amazon Web Services and Prologis are constructing a 250-megawatt data center in Trenton, Ohio, prompting residents to challenge project transparency and potential land, water, noise, and utility impacts.
8/19/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
The Ohio Supreme Court last week restored an Ashville referendum challenging EdgeConneX's emergency data-center approval and required stronger justifications for similar municipal actions.
8/14/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Jon Husted proposed Ohio Ratepayer Protection Act rules requiring data centers to fund grid upgrade costs and provide guarantees, amid rising grid pressure from expanding data center demand.
7/23/2026 • Power Procurement & Grid • General
PJM Interconnection reported a 6.8-gigawatt capacity shortfall in its latest auction for the second year, prompting Ohio lawmakers to advance bills addressing data-center driven electricity costs and forecast scrutiny.
7/20/2026 • Power Procurement & Grid • General
Sunbury, Ohio residents will vote Nov. 3 on a charter amendment limiting large-scale data center peak loads to 25 MW, following City Council certification on July 15.
7/16/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Springfield, Ohio residents Melissa Rexroth and Nicole Bethel seek a November ballot charter amendment restricting new large data centers, while the City Commission considers a July 14 moratorium.
7/12/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Perry Village elections board received a July 7 petition from Protect Perry and Lake Erie to ballot a proposed data center ordinance on Nov. 3.
7/11/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Springfield, Ohio residents collected signatures for a November ballot charter amendment banning large data centers, alongside a planned July 14 city moratorium.
7/10/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
ConserveOhio supporters in Ohio collected more than 105,000 signatures for a 2027 ballot measure banning data centers above 25 megawatts per month.
7/9/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Pataskala and Sunbury, Ohio residents filed petitions for charter amendments to ban new data centers using 25 megawatts of power per month or more.
7/8/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Cleveland Public Power Commissioner Ammon Danielson issued a June 25, 2025 letter supporting a proposed Slavic Village data center up to 125 MW while city officials debated grid capacity and permitting readiness.
7/2/2026 • Power Procurement & Grid • General
Ohio residents and regulators question data-center-driven load growth as utility safeguards and proposed reforms stall during sales-tax break disagreement.
6/29/2026 • Power Procurement & Grid • General
Cleveland rejected a 150-megawatt Slavic Village data center and City Council considered a moratorium while H5 Data Centers pursued permits for a Cleveland expansion.
6/22/2026 • Technology & Operations • General
Conserve Ohio said a proposed Ohio constitutional restriction on large data centers missed the July 1 ballot filing deadline and will target a 2027 election.
6/21/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Sunbury, Mount Orab, and Perry Township residents in Ohio organized moratoria and ballot proposals against Amazon-linked data center expansions, citing disclosure and local impact concerns.
5/17/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
More than 100 residents attended a May 12 Canton hearing on a Perry Township hyperscale data center tax break, with Canton council voting May 18.
5/13/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Trenton City Council certified a petition for a November 2026 vote on banning data centers while pursuing annexation for an Amazon Web Services campus in Butler County, Ohio.
9/4/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Ohio Chamber Research Foundation released a report on data center water use in Columbus and Cincinnati-Dayton, projecting 2030 cooling demand and identifying stormwater and infrastructure readiness as primary constraints.
6/9/2026 • Water & Cooling • General
The Ohio Supreme Court ruled in Wilmington that residents could not place a referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot challenging Amazon Web Services' proposed $4 billion data center.
9/19/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
The Ohio Supreme Court ordered Trenton officials to advance a data-center ban petition and required Ashville officials to submit opposition to an EdgeConneX project for potential November votes.
9/1/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Ohio municipalities and townships adopted or considered data center moratoriums and bans by September 17 amid growing public opposition and permitting concerns.
9/18/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Interesting
Ohio residents, officials and political candidates are contesting data-center incentives and siting rules in 2020s disputes across Defiance and the state.
9/19/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Ohio residents and candidates are challenging data center incentives and development in 2020s election campaigns, with Defiance becoming a focal point for local opposition.
9/21/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Grove City voters will decide November 3 whether to adopt a charter amendment restricting data-center development amid opposition from business leaders concerned about land use and manufacturing capacity.
9/19/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
President Donald Trump defended data center construction while campaigning with Senator Jon Husted on Saturday in Vandalia, Ohio, amid voter concerns about electricity costs.
10/4/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
ACS Digital & Energy presented plans for Project Riverbend, a proposed data center redevelopment at the former Muskingum River Power Plant site in Washington County, Ohio.
9/17/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Cleveland residents questioned Azure Energy representatives about Project River's proposed $11.3 billion data center during a community forum in Cleveland, Tennessee.
9/12/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
The Supreme Court of Ohio on Friday ordered Ashville to submit a referendum petition challenging EdgeConneX's Pickaway County hyperscale data center to the county board of elections.
8/7/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Pataskala and Sunbury residents will vote in November on proposed hyperscale data center bans after Ohio city councils approved ballot measures.
8/4/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Eolian began building the Flint Grid battery system in New Albany, Ohio, in 2026 to help manage regional peak demand linked to data-center growth before initial operations in 2027.
8/3/2026 • Power Procurement & Grid • General
New Albany officials told an Ohio legislative committee that Meta's Beech Road campus and other buildouts are creating construction jobs and tax revenue as opposition and nondisclosure concerns grow statewide.
6/8/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Alliance City Council is using an 18-month moratorium in Alliance, Ohio, to study data center impacts and establish zoning and operating conditions before permits resume.
9/2/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
The Supreme Court of Ohio on Friday ordered Ashville to submit residents' referendum petition on an EdgeConneX data center to the Pickaway County board of elections.
8/8/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
EdgeConneX sought intervention before the Ohio Supreme Court in July after Ashville residents challenged rejection of a referendum on the company’s proposed data center agreement.
7/28/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Columbus City Council held a public hearing on Sept. 16-scheduled legislation requiring large data centers to provide water conservation, decommissioning, and sewer permit plans.
7/23/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Massillon City Council is scheduled to vote Aug. 3 on zoning rules restricting data centers to heavy-industrial districts with 400-foot residential setbacks and pre-construction water and power capacity proof.
7/14/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Alliance, Ohio City Council approved an 18-month moratorium on AI data center permits on July 6, 2025, while drafting future conditional-use rules.
7/7/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Canton, Ohio, moved to update zoning laws for future data center projects as officials outlined setbacks, noise studies, and public hearing steps before a July 27 vote.
6/30/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Akron, Ohio officials plan a July 10 Planning Commission review of a zoning ordinance adding conditional-use approval and public hearings for new data centers.
6/29/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Mayfield Village Council approved a one-year data center moratorium on June 22 in Ohio while staff study zoning, emissions, noise, and rapid-deployment risks.
6/26/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Akron plans a July Planning Commission vote on a zoning ordinance that would require conditional approval and disclosures for data center projects.
6/25/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Cleveland City Council will hold a hearing on a data-center moratorium this Thursday, guided by Cuyahoga County recommendations on zoning, energy, and water conditions.
6/22/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Canton, New York proposed a June 10 moratorium on large data-center construction through next May, with a July 8 public hearing.
6/20/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Hubbard, Ohio officials debate data center development controls after a New Albany site tour, focusing on moratorium duration and potential conditional-use zoning.
6/20/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Dayton, Ohio held a June 17 public hearing on zoning code amendments to define and regulate data centers, citing noise and energy and water concerns.
6/19/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
H5 Data Centers filed a $30 million permit for an expansion at 1625 Rockwell Ave. in Downtown Cleveland as City Council considered a data center moratorium.
6/12/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Columbus Council schedules a June 9 first reading of a hyperscale data center overlay ordinance covering noise and water use, with a vote planned for June 16.
6/4/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Grove City, Ohio, approved a 6-1 one-year moratorium on new data center development on Monday after community hearings and a planned six-month impact study.
6/2/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
St. Marys city councilors introduced a 12-month emergency moratorium on data centers while Ohio paused new data center tax exemptions during state committee review.
5/28/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Massillon City Council in Ohio began work-session talks on zoning legislation and utility certification requirements for permitted data center construction on June 1.
5/27/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Charles Slife-led Cleveland proposal would pause data center permits while zoning rules for definitions, size, and utilities are updated as Lakeland Equity Group advances plans.
5/23/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Greater Cleveland Partnership, backed by Ohio business and labor groups, urges Ohio communities to stop pausing data center permitting while lawmakers consider changing sales tax incentives.
5/20/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Boardman, Ohio township trustees voted April 28 to impose a one-year moratorium on data centers while zoning and regulation options are developed amid community concerns.
5/20/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Cleveland officials Blaine Griffin and Justin Bibb said no data centers will be sited at The Midline while pending legislation blocks new facilities until May 2027.
5/18/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Painesville Township trustees approved a 12-month data center permit moratorium in Ohio to draft zoning language addressing power and water demand and related local quality-of-life concerns.
5/16/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Lakeland Equity Group’s Slavic Village data center permit was rejected by Cleveland officials after missing drawings were recorded Thursday.
5/14/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Cleveland denied a permit for Lakeland Equity Group’s proposed Slavic Village hyperscale data center on East 55th Street after local objections and a May 4 moratorium ordinance.
5/14/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Cleveland rejected Lakeland Equity Group's incomplete building application for a proposed 150 MW Slavic Village data center campus while City Council considered a new data center moratorium.
5/14/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Cleveland rejected a May 5 permit for a $1.6 billion hyperscale data center in Slavic Village, citing zoning review failure and residential siting concerns.
5/14/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Cleveland, Ohio filed due diligence discussions after a permit for a $1.6 billion hyperscale data center near Slavic Village drew concerns about power and water systems.
5/11/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Cleveland utilities committee voted for a three-month moratorium on standalone data center building permits, with a full council vote possible July 15.
6/29/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Massillon City Council discusses May 26 zoning legislation to allow data center construction with utility certification requirements and I-1 or I-2 placement rules, with first reading set for June 1.
5/27/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Ohio municipalities and townships adopted or considered data center moratoriums and bans by September 17 as local officials addressed zoning, infrastructure, and community concerns.
9/18/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Voters in 18 Ohio municipalities and townships will decide on Nov. 3 whether to restrict proposed data centers through bans, zoning changes, and other local measures.
9/14/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Ohio voters in 18 municipalities and townships will decide on Nov. 3 whether to restrict, ban, or add approval requirements for proposed data centers.
9/14/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
The Ohio Supreme Court ordered Trenton officials to schedule a special election on a proposed ban of large data centers after residents challenged petition-signature findings.
9/3/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Ohio officials and Senator Bernie Moreno are revisiting data center incentives in 2026 as subsidy changes threaten construction planning across Ohio and neighboring markets.
9/14/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
AEP Ohio and PJM are planning generation and transmission investments across Ohio and the PJM region as projected data center demand raises costs and regulatory concerns.
9/10/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio lawmakers, candidates, residents, and courts are challenging data-center development through proposed restrictions, moratoriums, and referendum protections across Ashville, Jerome Township, and statewide elections.
8/27/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ashtabula Growth Partnership, local officials and developers are evaluating potential data centers in Ashtabula County, Ohio, while Ashtabula Township maintains a June 2026 moratorium.
8/15/2026 • Infrastructure & Site Development • General
Maureen Willis testified before Ohio lawmakers that Ohio should allocate data center load costs and reliability requirements to developers using credible supply planning.
5/27/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Piqua, Ohio approved late-2025 utility and development agreements for Shaytura LLC’s new data center, with January 23, 2026 execution of development, water, wastewater, and TIF agreements.
5/24/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost certified a March 26 citizen petition that could ban data centers over 25 MW after Perry Township hearings, alongside House Bill 646 commission proposals.
5/13/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost certified a March 26 petition for a potential fall ballot ban on data centers above 25 MW while House Bill 646 created a Data Center Study Commission.
5/13/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio voters in 18 municipalities and townships will decide data-center bans, zoning changes, and project challenges on Nov. 3.
9/14/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
The Ohio Supreme Court on Friday upheld the Clinton County Board of Elections’ decision to exclude a Wilmington data-center referendum from the November 2026 ballot.
9/19/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Cleveland City Council is holding three public hearings in Cleveland before October 20 to gather public input on permanent data center regulations.
9/18/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Ohio Republican lawmakers proposed legislation in Columbus requiring citizen approval and banning local nondisclosure agreements for new data center projects.
8/21/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Ohio Republican lawmakers proposed legislation requiring citizen approval for new data centers and banning local nondisclosure agreements with developers across Ohio.
8/21/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Trenton residents and Ohio legislative candidates are opposing a major data center project over water, farmland, electricity, and transmission impacts in Ohio.
8/10/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Trenton residents and Ohio legislative candidates are contesting a nearly one-million-square-foot data center under construction in Trenton over farmland, aquifer, electricity, and emissions concerns.
8/10/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Ohio residents and lawmakers in 2025 debate restrictions on new data centers after local zoning fights around Amazon-linked projects in Mount Orab, Perry Township, and Sunbury.
5/17/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Mayor Justin Bibb and Cleveland officials rejected a 150 MW hyperscale data center proposal in Slavic Village and are considering zoning limits and a potential permit moratorium in Cleveland, Ohio.
5/27/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Jon Husted and Sherrod Brown campaigned over data center growth and its costs in Ohio during the 2020s Senate race, while activists raised concerns about utility bills, pollution and farmland.
10/6/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Chillicothe City Council overturned its data center moratorium in September in Chillicothe, Ohio, advancing Aligned Engine's contested proposal for the former Pixelle paper mill.
9/14/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
At the Aug. 11-12, 2026 conference in Lexington, Kentucky, utility and industry leaders said data center growth is accelerating Ohio Valley generation investments and labor recruitment.
9/11/2026 • Power Procurement & Grid • General
Ohio data center expansion is increasing electricity demand across PJM Interconnection, prompting curtailment actions and consideration of temporary hyperscale disconnections during peak conditions.
8/27/2026 • Power Procurement & Grid • General
United States communities, officials, and residents are challenging AI-related data-center projects in 2020s markets, including Ohio, over environmental impacts, utility needs, and local control.
8/22/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Columbus GA Indivisible hosted a Saturday town hall in Columbus, Georgia, where residents questioned a proposed Muscogee County data center's costs, safeguards, and uncertain financial benefits.
8/22/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Piqua City Commission approved a path for Meta to build a data center in Piqua, Ohio, while residents pursued a Nov. 3 vote on limiting facility power use.
8/18/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Third Act Ohio's working group and Save Ohio Parks discussed data center growth and divided permitting authority during preparations for Ohio's November election.
8/9/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
The Ohio Supreme Court ruled Friday in favor of Ashville residents challenging expedited approval of two EdgeConneX data centers, sending the referendum issue to the Pickaway County Board of Elections.
8/8/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Oregon, Ohio city officials identified Vantage Data Centers as prospective developer of a three-building project near Wynn and Corduroy roads as residents pursued a November ballot measure.
7/29/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Chillicothe, Ohio officials learned about an Aligned-operated data center plan at a former paper mill site at the same time as residents and requested details on timeline, size, and power.
7/23/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Sunbury, Ohio residents collected signatures for a November ballot charter amendment restricting large data centers, as multiple Ohio communities push local limits after a statewide measure missed.
7/20/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Human First Advocacy coordinated a Columbus, Georgia protest against proposed hyperscale data center construction in Muscogee County on Saturday morning.
7/19/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Residents in Burgin, Kentucky held a public meeting on July 20 ordinance consideration to oppose a proposed Mercer County data center near Shaker Village.
7/12/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
DAMAC Digital held planning discussions with Canton, Ohio residents July 14 for a southeast Stark County Orchard View hyperscale data center featuring closed-loop cooling and a planned substation.
7/10/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Ohio election campaigns in 2020s momentum build around a proposed pause on new data centers, following a Bowling Green State University poll and disputes over tax exemptions tied to major tech firms.
7/10/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Sunbury and Pataskala residents in Ohio collect signatures for charter amendments to cap data centers above 25 MW peak load, aligning with a Conserve Ohio statewide effort.
6/26/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Sunbury and Pataskala residents in Ohio collect signatures for charter amendments capping data centers at 25 MW to block hyperscale projects.
6/26/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Conserve Ohio said it will not file more than 413,000 signatures for a November 2026 data-center ban ballot measure in Ohio by July 1 and will target 2027 instead.
6/22/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Hubbard Township trustees toured New Albany, Ohio, during a zoning moratorium review process for proposed data center rules.
6/12/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Jessica Adams Baker and other rural Ohio residents collect signatures for a July 1 ballot deadline to restrict data centers above 25 megawatts as the Ohio Joint Data Center Committee holds public testimony in Columbus.
6/11/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Mayfield Village Council in Ohio plans to vote on a one-year data center moratorium on June 22 to review land-use, power, water, and tax impacts.
6/6/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Ohio residents testified on June 1 before the Select Committee on Data Centers, urging a statewide moratorium over water use, energy demand, and rural land impacts.
6/1/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Ohio residents will testify at a Monday Statehouse hearing on Select Committee on Data Centers findings while lawmakers debate overriding Gov. DeWine's veto of an elimination of the data center sales tax exemption.
5/31/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Zuharis officials described a 510-acre Yellow Creek Township data center and power plant proposal at a public meeting in Columbiana County, Ohio, amid resident concerns.
5/29/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Hundreds of Shalersville, Ohio residents attended a meeting in Portage County on Bitdeer’s proposed data center campus during June, citing water, power, and moratorium-related approval concerns.
5/29/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Nicole Bethel and Melissa Rexroth join Conserve Ohio to gather signatures in Springfield, Ohio, opposing a 75-megawatt Prime Ohio data center and supporting a constitutional mega-data center ban.
5/25/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Grafton Village Council in Ohio voted May 19 for a five-year moratorium on data center development, alongside multiple Ohio state bills and an AG-approved amendment petition.
5/21/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Ohio residents in Mount Orab, Perry Township, and Sunbury oppose proposed data centers, prompting local zoning moratoriums and state lawmakers to debate new restrictions.
5/17/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Stark County officials in Ohio said Perry Township data center plans proceed amid JEDD and water hookup disputes with Canton and local tax abatements after community concerns.
5/17/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Canton City Council held a May 12 public hearing for an Amazon-backed Perry Township data center, scheduled for a May 18 vote and potential Stark County review.
5/13/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Ohio lawmakers created a bipartisan Joint Data Center Committee to study economic, environmental, and security impacts as cities and townships pursue data center bans and moratoriums.
5/13/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Richland County commissioners in Ohio opposed a proposed Franklin Township data center while Mansfield officials and residents advanced local coordination and statewide ballot efforts in 2025.
5/12/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Grove City Council approved a nine-month data center moratorium after residents protested a potential Stream Data Centers project in Ohio, with no applications submitted as of May 4.
5/11/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Mount Orab residents in Ohio organized opposition to a potential data center site as state lawmakers advanced a data-center study commission bill.
5/17/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Ohio lawmakers abandoned House Bill 646 on June 10 after sales tax exemption disputes amid rising rural opposition to data centers.
6/21/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio legislators formed a bipartisan commission in 2025 to review over 200 data centers, as Senate Bill 374 targets ending a high-cost data-center sales-tax exemption.
5/30/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
During the 2026 election cycle, Ohio candidates and national political committees made data-center growth, utility costs, and local resource pressures central campaign issues.
8/20/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Ohio communities and gubernatorial candidates challenged data center expansion in 2025 over grid costs, water use, tax incentives, and local development conditions.
8/14/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio gubernatorial candidates Amy Acton, Don Kissick, and Vivek Ramaswamy proposed pausing or restricting new data center approvals statewide until legislative standards address land use, costs, environmental safeguards, and community benefits.
8/10/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
In Ohio, PUCO approved an AEP Ohio data center tariff in July 2025 as residents and advocates debate PJM grid strain and rising electricity bills.
5/17/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Federal and Ohio policymakers debated data-center permitting reform at a Sept. 3 Columbus summit as rapid growth fueled concerns about energy, water, subsidies, and local impacts.
9/4/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Cleveland City Council held a hearing on legislation temporarily pausing new data centers after Cuyahoga County issued moratorium guidelines.
6/29/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine paused new data center tax incentive offers as opposition to hyperscale development increased and lawmakers began an impact study.
5/28/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio tax officials reported higher revenue losses from the state data-center sales tax exemption in 2024 and 2025, intensifying debates over repeal efforts after a DeWine veto.
5/21/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio Rep. Daniel Troy introduced House Bill 999 in Ohio to prohibit local governments from granting new property-tax abatements for data centers.
9/13/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
On Thursday in Columbus, Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno proposed a 100 percent federal tax on state and local data center incentives amid backlash over project costs and resource demands.
9/8/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Bernie Moreno proposed federal taxation of state and local data center incentives in Ohio as residents and candidates debated taxpayer costs, electricity prices, and environmental impacts.
9/4/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ark Data Centers is planning a South Akron expansion after Ohio approved a 10-year sales tax exemption, with Akron City Council considering nearby land and street changes.
8/19/2026 • Infrastructure & Site Development • General
In 2025, Ohio gubernatorial candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Amy Acton proposed stricter data-center requirements as communities statewide, especially in the Mahoning Valley, opposed costs and environmental impacts.
8/7/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio officials granted property-tax breaks to AWS, Google, and Meta data center projects in 2024 while lawmakers debated capping abatements at 50 percent.
7/16/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio Manufacturers Association told PUCO of Ohio that AES Ohio data center tariff terms could leave other customers exposed to transmission upgrade costs.
6/27/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio House Democratic leaders asked Governor Mike DeWine and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio for a statewide utility rate class for large data centers ahead of PJM procurement.
6/25/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio lawmakers advanced House Bill 646 in 2026, proposing electricity and water reporting requirements plus public-record access for data center NDAs.
6/25/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio officials and lawmakers questioned long-term sales tax exemptions for data centers after revenue-loss estimates rose from incentive projections.
6/14/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio lawmakers abandoned House Bill 646 on data-center regulation after House objections to extending a sales and use tax break before summer recess.
6/11/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio officials approved sales tax exemptions for 18 data-center projects, while lawmakers planned a June 10 vote to cap future breaks at 50% and add water and electricity oversight.
6/10/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio Senate Energy Committee members revised HB 646 to reduce future data center sales tax incentives and require a PUCO data center rate class.
6/9/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine paused new data center tax exemption requests in 2026 while a legislative committee studies energy, environmental, and local impacts.
6/4/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio lawmakers launched hearings for a data center committee in Ohio to review power cost allocation, grid capacity constraints, and water and wastewater permitting impacts.
6/1/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio will suspend a data center sales tax exemption after state reports show costs surged in 2024 and 2025, as local opposition grows toward a hyperscale ban.
5/31/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio lawmakers started data center committee hearings on June 1 public comment, focusing on utility cost allocation, grid strain, and water permitting oversight.
5/30/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine paused new data center tax-break offers while residents advanced a November referendum to permanently ban hyperscale construction statewide.
5/30/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine pauses new data center tax exemption requests while a legislative committee reviews economic, electrical grid, and environmental effects.
5/29/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine paused new data-center tax incentive offers in 2025 amid rising utilization and local opposition, while a ballot referendum targets a hyperscale ban.
5/29/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio paused new data center tax-exemption grants in 2024-2025 planning while lawmakers studied impacts amid rising fiscal costs and a potential November hyperscale ban referendum.
5/28/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Gov. Mike DeWine paused new Ohio data center sales tax exemptions while a General Assembly Select Committee studies data center growth after reported revenue losses exceeded estimates.
5/28/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced a June 1 moratorium on the data center sales tax exemption while Ohio and Pennsylvania consider conditional standards amid grid and water pressure.
5/28/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Mike DeWine announced an Ohio pause on tax incentives for new hyperscale AI data centers in 2025, while a referendum effort seeks a November statewide construction ban.
5/28/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine paused new data center sales and use tax exemptions after the Joint Data Center Study Committee first met, starting Monday proposal intake suspension.
5/28/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio officials approved a $42.3 million sales tax exemption for Cologix data centers in Delaware and Licking counties near Columbus.
5/28/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Gov. Mike DeWine announced Ohio will pause new data center tax exemption requests in 2026 after a nearly $1.6 billion 2025 cost estimate.
5/27/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ordered a pause on new data center tax exemption requests during 2025 review by the Ohio General Assembly Joint Data Center Committee.
5/27/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Gov. Mike DeWine ordered the Ohio Tax Credit Authority to freeze new data center sales-tax exemption requests in Ohio while a Joint Data Center Committee studies electric-intensive facilities.
5/27/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Mike DeWine directed the Ohio Tax Credit Authority to pause new data center sales and use tax exemption requests while the Joint Data Center Committee studies growth impacts.
5/27/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Kent Smith and Louis Bill Blessing III propose repealing Ohio sales-tax exemptions for new data center projects as tax reporting shows much larger forgone revenue than expected.
5/25/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio Department of Taxation reported that the state data center sales tax exemption cost about $555 million in 2024 and about $1.6 billion in 2025.
5/24/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio tax officials reported 2024-2025 losses from the state data center sales tax exemption far above forecasts, while Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed ending the incentive.
5/23/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio lawmakers and Gov. Mike DeWine face renewed pressure after data center sales-tax exemption costs rose above forecasts in 2024 and 2025 projections.
5/22/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio Department of Taxation data shows the state's data center sales tax exemption cost $555 million in 2024 and about $1.6 billion in 2025, far above forecasts.
5/21/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio Department of Taxation data in 2024-2025 show the state's data center sales tax exemption cost far more than expected, driving legislative scrutiny after a DeWine veto.
5/21/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Canton City Council unanimously approved a Perry Township hyperscale data center property tax break, advancing a Community Reinvestment Area deal to Stark County commissioners after a May 12 public hearing.
5/19/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio Residents for Responsible Development gathered 25,000 signatures by early in a five-week effort to qualify a ballot measure banning data centers using over 25 MW monthly power.
5/15/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
AEP Ohio won Public Utilities Commission approval in July 2025 for a data center tariff as Ohio communities and courts respond to faster hyperscale expansion near Columbus.
5/8/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
House Bill 646 failed in Ohio, leaving regulators to resolve data-center electricity cost allocation issues ahead of PJM’s September auction planning.
6/24/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio lawmakers held initial hearings for a data center committee on power-cost allocation, PJM reliability concerns, and water and wastewater oversight as new capacity is planned.
5/29/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Sherrod Brown has made opposition to data-center development a central issue against Jon Husted during Ohio's Senate campaign, citing local control, utility costs, and water use.
8/23/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
The NRSC said on August 18, 2026, in Ohio, that data center opposition is threatening Jon Husted's Senate campaign and could influence national project politics.
8/23/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Jon Husted and Sherrod Brown are contesting an Ohio Senate campaign in which a leaked Republican memo says data center construction has become a major political liability.
8/22/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Cleveland City Council will hold three public hearings in late September and early October to gather input before the city's data center development moratorium expires October 20.
9/17/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Cleveland City Councilman Brian Kazy announced three public hearings in Cleveland on data center impacts and policy before the city's permitting moratorium expires October 20, 2026.
9/16/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Cleanview reports 18 operating Ohio data centers totaling 558 MW and 42 planned projects adding 15,739 MW across major developers and counties.
6/18/2026 • Market Demand & Investment • General
Ohio gubernatorial candidates Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy proposed competing data-center rules during the 2025 campaign, addressing utility costs, environmental standards, and community benefits statewide.
8/12/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Jonathan Steirer discusses Cleveland's infrastructure readiness for hyperscale data centers after Cleveland denied the city's first hyperscale data center permit, citing transmission capacity and grid reliability constraints.
5/27/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio candidates, residents, lawmakers, and courts are challenging data center projects and related energy policies across Ashville, Jerome Township, Columbus, and Bowling Green.
9/22/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
In 2026, Ohio added 25 data centers, bringing its total to 91 across 14 counties, while the state adopted an AEP Ohio tariff covering qualifying large facilities.
9/28/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Four polls conducted in August and September found widespread opposition among Ohio and U.S. voters to nearby data center construction, with Ohio respondents also favoring development guardrails.
9/24/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Trenton, Ohio, residents are opposing a data center under construction and possible additional facilities because of water shortages, power demand, farmland loss, and uncertain community benefits.
8/18/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Trenton residents and W.A.T.E.R. are opposing a data center under construction and suing city officials after a Thursday council meeting over a rejected ballot petition.
8/7/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Sherrod Brown and Jon Husted face Ohio midterm scrutiny as advertisements tie data center energy demand and tax incentives to household utility bills.
7/27/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
About 50 Vicksburg, Mississippi residents protested an Amazon Web Services data center planned for Warren County on Dana Road near Dana Road Elementary School.
7/18/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Growth Partnership released an Ashtabula County data center FAQ to guide public discussion, while Conneaut and Ashtabula Township manage siting amid a one-year moratorium.
7/5/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
McDonald village officials visited New Albany, Ohio in a Lake to River Economic Development trip to evaluate data-center siting, reported tax benefits, and local noise and environmental outcomes.
6/20/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Amazon proposed a Manchester, Ohio data center as residents requested a pause over possible well-water contamination during stalled state regulation discussions in the Ohio Senate.
6/11/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
FairlawnGig and TKG explain Summit County data center operations, including a $2 million Fairlawn renovation, air-based cooling, and limited power use amid Ohio sales tax exemption changes.
6/8/2026 • Technology & Operations • General
Ohio lawmakers questioned Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft representatives in June 2026 on NDAs, local control, tax incentives, and electric and water usage for data center projects.
6/5/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Ohio lawmakers heard hours of public testimony on Monday for the Joint Data Center Committee, including opposition citing electricity and water demands and later invited hyperscaler testimony.
6/1/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Ohio data center developers are pursuing behind-the-meter generation as state siting rules and local controls shape solar, wind, and natural gas choices.
8/26/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Innovation Ohio compared Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy's Ohio data center policies on July 27, 2026, highlighting divergent positions on moratoriums, safeguards, and local control.
8/6/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Buckeye, Arizona, published a planning resource page outlining proposed industrial-zone locations and water and power planning for potential future data-center development.
7/2/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Alliance City Council held a public hearing as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced an indefinite pause on new data center sales tax exemptions on May 27.
6/27/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
In Ohio, a Buckeye Institute and National Taxpayers Union report ties data center expansion to utility and siting reforms while citing emerging statewide and municipal construction moratoriums.
6/18/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio lawmakers enacted a 2011 data-center tax incentive signed by John R. Kasich, later estimated to exceed $1.5 billion in 2025 tax revenue losses.
6/14/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Greg R. Lawson testified in Ohio before the Select Committee on Data Centers, recommending maintenance of sales tax exemptions and greater transparency on local tax abatements under Ohio House Bill 646.
6/11/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio taxation estimates raised expected costs for data center sales tax exemptions, and Governor Mike DeWine paused new requests to review grid and water accountability.
6/9/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Buckeye Power and Ohio's Electric Cooperatives developed a data-center load and cost-allocation process in Ohio to prevent existing members from bearing new grid and power costs.
5/25/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Amy Acton, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ohio lawmakers, and Mike DeWine advanced competing data center restrictions and tax policies in Ohio during July and August.
8/6/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Wednesday that a statewide data center construction tax break will remain frozen through next year as gubernatorial candidates debate new facility regulations before November's election.
8/6/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio ordered AEP Ohio to assign default-service procurement costs to returning data centers in Ohio.
8/5/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
In 2025, Sen. Jon Husted introduced the Ratepayer Protection Act in Washington, D.C., to require data centers and other large electricity users to cover added power and infrastructure costs.
7/28/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Amy Acton, an Ohio gubernatorial candidate, announced July 27, 2026 support for a conditional moratorium on data-center projects in Ohio tied to utility costs, union labor, transparency, environmental compliance, and community benefits.
7/27/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Sherrod Brown released an Ohio Senate campaign ad attacking Jon Husted for data-center tax deals and approvals while calling for ending Ohio data center tax breaks and requiring water-use limits.
7/8/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio lawmakers failed to agree on data center tax incentive reforms during the 2020s legislative session, delaying changes after Gov. Mike DeWine paused sales tax exemptions.
6/8/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio data center developers increased lobbying and Connected Ohio Facebook ads as Governor Mike DeWine paused new sales-tax credits after 2025 revenue losses.
6/2/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Additional
AEP Ohio secured approximately $18 million from five data center companies for household bill assistance and adopted capacity and grid-connection rules in Ohio.
8/24/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio residents opposed large data center projects during 2026 public hearings in Millersport and other communities, making development a prominent issue in the state's Senate and governor races.
8/23/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
American Electric Power said five data center owners will fund $17 million in Ohio residential bill assistance over five years through AEP Ohio's Neighbor to Neighbor program.
8/21/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
AEP Ohio and five data center companies pledged more than $18 million on August 18 for electricity assistance benefiting Ohio households.
8/18/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Lake to River vice president Michael McGiffin told Howland, Ohio, officials that data center inquiries are increasing across the region while future incentives may decline.
8/1/2026 • Market Demand & Investment • General
Wheeling and Belmont County officials evaluate Silicon Foundation Energy and EnergiAcres proposals for modular computing and a 2-3 gigawatt data-center project as permitting and power details remain unsettled.
6/27/2026 • Market Demand & Investment • General
ABC Ohio Valley urged contractors across the Ohio Valley in 2026 to monitor rising data center construction spending for effects on labor, project execution, and backlog quality.
10/1/2026 • Market Demand & Investment • General
Ohio lawmakers questioned Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft at a June 2026 data-center committee hearing while leaving unanswered questions about NDAs and electricity and water use.
6/5/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton proposed a conditional moratorium on noncompliant new data centers during Ohio's gubernatorial campaign, requiring operators to meet cost, labor, siting, and disclosure conditions.
9/27/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Vivek Ramaswamy proposed in Marietta, Ohio, Friday that a future administration halt new data center announcements until legislation establishes community benefits and environmental safeguards.
9/12/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio gubernatorial candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Amy Acton are proposing conditions on new data centers amid infrastructure and conflict concerns raised in Cleveland and statewide.
9/11/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Sherrod Brown is campaigning against Jon Husted over Ohio data center tax incentives ahead of the 2026 U.S. Senate election.
8/27/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
In 2026, Amazon Web Services was reportedly planning a 3.96-million-square-foot data center campus on 601 acres near Trenton in Butler County, Ohio.
8/13/2026 • Infrastructure & Site Development • General
Vivek Ramaswamy, Don Kissick, and Amy Acton outlined competing Ohio data center policies that would condition or halt new construction while addressing electricity costs, incentives, land use, and community impacts.
8/9/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio gubernatorial candidates Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy proposed statewide limits on new data centers, citing farmland conversion, environmental standards, utility costs, and local transparency.
8/6/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Don Kissick proposed Tuesday in Ohio an immediate moratorium on unstarted data center projects until lawmakers establish statewide standards governing land, electricity, water, transparency, and incentives.
8/5/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio gubernatorial candidates debate a conditional data center moratorium as Acton proposes labor, environmental, and utility cost conditions for new builds.
7/27/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio governor candidates in Columbus debate how to regulate data center expansion, focusing on energy costs, water discharge, tax incentives, and transparency.
7/23/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
NBC4 identified 172 verifiable data center projects across Ohio, citing mapping difficulties and increasing municipal bans driven by community opposition.
7/14/2026 • Infrastructure & Site Development • General
Trenton, Ohio approved a CRA tax abatement for Prologis data center buildings, granting a 75 percent property tax exemption for 15 years amid local opposition and annexation concerns.
7/11/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio Republicans used study committees and a June 10 deadline to advance data center water and energy regulations, but the proposal stalled over tax-exemption preservation, with renewed talks expected after November.
7/4/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Conserve Ohio missed the July 1 signatures deadline for an Ohio constitutional ban on data centers above 25 MW per month and will pursue a 2027 ballot.
6/22/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio organizers will not place a statewide ban on new large-scale data centers on the current ballot after collecting about 70,000 signatures.
6/21/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Conserve Ohio delays an Ohio constitutional amendment targeting most modern data centers to the 2027 ballot after missing a July 1 filing deadline.
6/20/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Conserve Ohio is targeting a 2027 ballot instead of the November election after missing Ohio’s July 1 signature deadline for a constitutional amendment limiting new data centers above 25 MW peak load.
6/20/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Conserve Ohio, an Ohio grassroots group, shifted a proposed constitutional ban on large data center construction from the 2026 November ballot to a 2027 ballot target.
6/19/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio political discussion highlights decades-long sales tax exemptions signed from 2014 to 2018 for Amazon, Meta, and Google data center development.
6/12/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio Senate legislation introduced by Rep. Tristan Rader would block new data-center sales tax exemptions statewide after Gov. Mike DeWine paused requests.
6/10/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio officials and landowners discussed a deposit and build eminent domain proposal in Columbus, Ohio, as farmers feared expedited land taking for data center-related utility projects.
6/8/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Food and Water Watch contests Adams County, Ohio incentive plans for Amazon Project Galaxy, citing CRA property tax reductions, PILOT structures, and transparency concerns.
6/8/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio lawmakers questioned Meta, Amazon Web Services, Google, and Microsoft on nondisclosure agreements, water and air claims, and electricity rate impacts during a data center committee hearing.
6/8/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio Senate and House committee members held a public hearing with county commissioners and stakeholders to study energy and environmental impacts of data centers.
6/8/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio leaders reacted to a data center tax exemption pause as EnergiAcres advanced early planning near Mansfield Lahm Airport and Richland County officials assessed local approval needs.
6/1/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine paused new data-center tax incentives while Ohio lawmakers study impacts and residents pursue a statewide hyperscale ban referendum.
5/31/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Ohio lawmakers formed a Select Committee on Data Centers to review tax incentive costs and infrastructure impacts ahead of summer recess.
5/28/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine directed the Ohio Tax Credit Authority to pause new data center tax exemption requests while the Ohio General Assembly Joint Data Center Committee studies growth.
5/28/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Policy Matters Ohio and labor and environmental advocates urged statewide data center reporting rules in Ohio at the May 22 Ohio Statehouse summit.
5/23/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Greater Cleveland Partnership supports Ohio data centers while opponents seek a November ballot constitutional ban and State Sen. Kent Smith presses to end tax exemptions amid power, water, and cost concerns.
5/23/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Conserve Ohio reported 25,000 signatures toward an Ohio November ballot measure that would ban data centers over 25 megawatts monthly by July 1.
5/18/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio lawmakers formed the Ohio Joint Data Center Committee in Columbus and advanced HB 706, SB 378, and HB 646 to address utility agreements and water and sewer cost responsibilities for data centers.
5/13/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Ohio lawmakers announced a bipartisan data center fact-finding joint committee meeting May 27-28 while a separate petition targets a November ballot ban above 25 megawatts monthly.
5/13/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
New Albany, Ohio officials describe rapid data center development at the New Albany International Business Park, supported by power upgrades, tax abatements, and water-use agreements.
5/11/2026 • Infrastructure & Site Development • General
Save Ohio Parks recommends pausing Ohio data center approvals while new rules require clean power sourcing, grid upgrade funding, and public energy and water reporting.
5/11/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Save Ohio Parks, citing Ohio renewable-energy limits, urges Ohio policymakers to impose a moratorium on new data centers as AEP expects major load-driven generation growth.
5/11/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Scioto Analysis surveyed Ohio economists in response to taxpayer-backed data center incentives, while AEP tariff disputes and a petition for a constitutional peak-load ban proceed in Ohio.
5/9/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Sherrod Brown is challenging Jon Husted's support for Ohio data centers in a campaign advertisement, while records show Google and its lobbyists contributed to Brown campaigns.
9/19/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Sherrod Brown is campaigning in Ohio in 2026 on requiring data centers to pay full electricity costs after previously supporting Amazon's Central Ohio expansion.
8/8/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
The National Republican Senatorial Committee warned during the Ohio Senate race that local opposition to data centers was weakening Jon Husted's campaign in Ohio.
8/22/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Bitdeer and Stark County operators discuss large-scale data-center growth in Ohio, including a planned 221-megawatt facility and related expansions.
6/2/2026 • Market Demand & Investment • General
Amazon Web Services will use Prysmian cables made with Rio Tinto and Alcoa's Elysis low-carbon aluminum at an undisclosed Ohio data center.
9/21/2026 • Infrastructure & Site Development • General
NBC4 mapped verifiable data center projects in Ohio, while municipal bans and neighborhood opposition grew around new facility siting near farms and residences.
7/15/2026 • Infrastructure & Site Development • General
Jehovah’s Witnesses purchased a former IBM data-center site in Warwick, New York, from Kyndryl on June 26 while still evaluating long-term use.
7/8/2026 • Infrastructure & Site Development • General
Ohio's Joint Data Center Committee began testimony hearings on June planning for new data center policy while Gov. Mike DeWine paused future tax exemptions.
5/31/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Sherrod Brown is using Ohio data center expansion to challenge Jon Husted during the 2020s U.S. Senate race in Ohio.
8/19/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General