Data centers emerge as key issue in Ohio's highly watched 1st Congressional District race
Candidates are pitching federal guardrails, state moratoriums and full tax payments as voters weigh rising power bills and environmental concerns.
- In the race for Ohio's 1st Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Greg Landsman is calling for a federal regulatory framework to ensure data center companies pay their own way and operate transparently.
- Growing public anxiety over data centers stems from concerns regarding water usage, electricity costs, and farmland preservation, as the industry has received $2.5 billion in state and local tax incentives between 2017 and 2024.
- Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy proposed an "Ohioans-first" pledge requiring electricity bill relief for nearby residents, while Democratic challenger Amy Acton advocates a "conditional moratorium" tied to labor and environmental standards.
- Grassroots group Conserve Ohio is collecting signatures for a 2027 ballot initiative to ban new data centers, reflecting activist disillusionment with the political system's failure to address local community impacts.
- Regional grid operator PJM Interconnection reported a 6.8 gigawatt power supply shortfall in its most recent auction, while data centers' share of U.S. electricity consumption is projected to rise to 9% by 2030.
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12 Articles
Fox News: In Washington, Sherrod Brown Welcomed Data Centers
Dem Senate hopeful flip-flops on emerging issue impacting communities across USLeo BricenoFox NewsAugust 8, 2026Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, once praised data center expansion, records show, even as he now runs on a platform opposing their development in a bid to return to the Senate. In 2015, Brown put out a press release celebrating the construction of a third data center in central Ohio. “This new data center is great news fo…
Sherrod Brown, Jon Husted Offer Contrasting Visions for Data Centers
As data centers continue to grow both in numbers and unpopularity, the candidates in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race are calling for more oversight. While they offer contrasting visions for data centers, neither has embraced a full halt in construction desired by advocates. Incumbent Republican Ohio U.S. Sen. Jon Husted played a pivotal role in bringing […] The post Sherrod Brown, Jon Husted Offer Contrasting Visions for Data Centers appeared first on C…
Ohio Capital Journal
tiffinohio.netOhio’s 9th Congressional district race: The candidates’ records on data centers
COLUMBUS, OH — JANUARY 03: Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Moclova Township) (center) during the Pledge of Allegiance at the opening day ceremonies of the 135th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, January 3, 2023, in the House Chamber at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal)The race for Ohio’s 9th U.S. Congressional district is one of the state’s most closely contested, and the candidates have contrasti…
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