Would a Data Center Hurt Your Community?

Five questions. See how Ohio's debate hits close to home.

Have your electric or utility bills increased noticeably in the past two years?

• Yes, significantly — Data centers are massive power consumers. Opponents at the Statehouse argue that adding more of them will push Ohio utility costs even higher for residential customers.
• Yes, a little — Even modest increases matter. Advocates say data center energy demand competes directly with household consumption on the grid.
• No change — For now. The committee is specifically investigating how much data centers impact Ohio energy bills — the answer may affect future rates.
• My bills went down — Lucky you — but statewide grid pressure from large facilities can still affect rates across utility regions.

Is there farmland or green space near where you live?

• Yes, a lot — I'm in a rural area — Rural Ohio communities are ground zero for data center expansion. Large land footprints make agricultural land a prime target for development.
• Some — I'm in a suburb — Suburban green space is also at risk. Projects are planned in counties like Portage, where a major data center project was recently announced.
• Not really — I'm urban — Urban residents face different tradeoffs — noise, water infrastructure stress, and power grid competition are bigger concerns than farmland loss.
• I'm not sure — Worth checking your county's zoning map. Data center projects are often approved before communities realize what's planned.

Did you know city councils in Ohio can sign NDAs with corporations — keeping data center plans secret until contracts are finalized?

• No — that's alarming — You're not alone. This was among the top complaints at Monday's hearing. Residents testified they had no idea about nearby projects until it was too late to oppose them.
• I'd heard something about it — Transparency is a central issue for the committee. The Perry Village data center meeting in April highlighted just how much NDAs can shut out public input.
• Yes, I knew — Good. Staying informed is the first line of defense. The committee is now evaluating what disclosure requirements should be required of corporations.
• Doesn't bother me — Some argue NDAs protect sensitive business plans. But critics say when a project changes a community's water, noise, and taxes — the public has a right to know first.

How concerned are you about industrial facilities affecting your local drinking water?

• Very concerned — Chemicals used in data center cooling systems were a key topic at Monday's hearing. A chemical engineer testified about potential risks to Ohio water supplies.
• Somewhat concerned — The committee is actively investigating water and wildlife impacts. Outcomes could shape future permitting requirements for facilities near water sources.
• Not very concerned — Data centers do require significant water for cooling. Whether that creates risk depends heavily on facility design and local regulations.
• Not concerned at all — Water use and chemical runoff concerns are part of the committee's formal review — whatever your view, the state is taking a closer look.

When a large corporation proposes moving into your community, what matters most to you?

• Jobs and tax revenue first — Committee co-chair Sen. Brian Chavez (R-Marietta) argues data centers bring needed jobs and are essential infrastructure for a connected economy.
• Environmental impact first — The majority of Monday's testifiers prioritized environmental concerns — from farmland loss to chemical exposure — over economic benefits.
• I want community input before anything — One lobbyist proposed letting residents vote on any data center within five miles of their city or township — a suggestion the committee is debating.
• Balanced review of both — The committee's stated mission covers all five impact areas. Whether that review leads to a moratorium, regulations, or nothing — is still undecided.

For Ohioans from Adams County to Fairfield County, the Joint Committee on Data Centers hearing Monday wasn't just about policy — it was personal. Residents testified about noise that never stops, chemicals they can't identify, and city councils that signed contracts before neighbors even knew a project existed.

"These data centers are changing our way of life," said Nanette Fitzpatrick of Fairfield County, who asked why corporations are permitted to use NDAs when building inside Ohio communities. "It is almost impossible to find anyone willing to answer questions."

Two Very Different Visions for Ohio

Residents' Concerns

• ↑ Bills Utility Costs Data centers compete on the power grid
• Lost Farmland Large land footprints consume agricultural acres
• NDAs No Transparency Communities blindsided by secret contracts
• Noise, chemical exposure, lower home values
• Call for moratorium or strict regulations

Pro-Data Center View

• Jobs Economic Benefit Facilities bring employment and tax revenue
• Essential Infrastructure Need Tech requires physical homes for data
• Existing Years of Operation Data centers are not new to Ohio
• National security argument: keep data domestic
• Committee review — not a shutdown — is the answer

Committee co-chairs Sen. Brian Chavez (R-Marietta) and Rep. Adam Holmes (R-Nashport) say their goal is fact-finding, not a moratorium. Chavez pushed back on emotional testimony, questioning one chemical engineer about whether he was being paid to testify — he wasn't.

Tensions flared early. When one resident reminded lawmakers they took an oath to protect Ohio's natural resources, Chavez shot back: "I hope that you're not suggesting that we're not taking that oath seriously" — drawing laughter from the packed room.

Separating Fact From Talking Points

Data centers bring significant jobs to local Ohio communities.

Verdict: mixed

Data centers do create some employment, but critics note the job numbers are often small relative to the facility's size, cost, and impact. The committee is formally reviewing financial benefits to communities.

Ohio city councils can legally sign NDAs with data center corporations, excluding the public.

Verdict: true

Multiple residents testified Monday that their local councils signed non-disclosure agreements, meaning community members had no input before contracts were finalized. This practice is under scrutiny at the Statehouse.

Opposition to data centers is driven by 'coastal special interests' trying to send data to China.

Verdict: unverified

A Senate GOP press release made this claim. Sen. Chavez later distanced himself from the statement. When pressed, he cited unnamed 'geopolitical forces' but offered no specific evidence. The claim has not been substantiated.

Data center chemicals could threaten Ohio drinking water.

Verdict: under review

A chemical engineer testified about risks from chemicals used in data center operations. The committee is officially investigating water and wildlife impacts — no definitive state finding has been issued yet.

Communities have no say once a data center contract is signed.

Verdict: mostly true

Residents consistently testified that by the time they learned of projects, public comment was effectively irrelevant. One lobbyist proposed mandatory public votes within a five-mile radius — a measure still being debated.

How Ohio's Data Center Fight Unfolded

• 2023–2024 — Data center boom accelerates across Ohio
• April 2025 — Perry Village data center meeting reveals transparency crisis
• Recent — Major data center project proposed in Portage County
• Monday — Joint Committee on Data Centers holds first major hearing
• Ongoing — Committee reviewing energy, water, farmland, jobs, and national security impacts
• TBD — Committee recommendation: moratorium, regulations, or no action

One of the more dramatic moments came when lobbyist Stephanie Stock suggested Ohioans should have the right to vote on any data center proposed within five miles of their city or township. Chavez challenged the idea — "Where do we draw the line? Does everyone have to apply for a vote for every gas station, every big farm, every school?" — but the crowd's reaction suggested many residents thought that bar sounded reasonable.

Austin Baurichter of Conserve Ohio, a grassroots group dedicated to ending the data center expansion, put it bluntly: elected officials took an oath to represent people — not corporations. That message landed hard in a room filled with residents who felt blindsided.

What the Committee Is — and Isn't — Doing

If the State of Ohio is open for business to any company, why are these companies allowed to have NDAs when they are building in our communities?Nanette Fitzpatrick, Fairfield County resident — testifying before the Joint Committee on Data Centers

What Exactly Does a Data Center Do — And Why Does Ohio Have So Many?

Data centers are massive warehouses of computer servers that store, process, and transmit digital information — everything from your streaming video and cloud storage to financial transactions and AI systems. Every tap of your phone, every Google search, every cloud backup lives physically inside one of these buildings.

Ohio has become a prime target for data center development due to its low land costs, access to fiber optic infrastructure, relatively affordable electricity rates, and central geography. The Columbus area has already emerged as one of the top data center markets in the country — and that boom is now spreading to smaller counties.

These facilities are enormous power consumers. A single large data center can draw as much electricity as a small city. They also require significant water for cooling systems, which is why opponents are raising alarms about both utility costs and environmental impact in communities that were previously agricultural or residential.

Make Your Voice Heard

• Submit Public Comment to the Committee: The Joint Committee on Data Centers is an ongoing process. Written testimony from constituents is accepted between hearings.
• Find Your State Representative: Look up who represents you in Columbus and let them know where you stand before the committee issues its recommendation.
• Watch for Local Zoning Notices: Data center projects are often first proposed through local zoning boards. Check your city or township's public meeting calendar to stay ahead of any announcements near you.
• Follow News 5 Cleveland's Coverage: Morgan Trau is tracking this story as it develops at the Statehouse. Bookmark our Ohio Politics section for updates.

Sources & References

• Primary source: local-news — Morgan Trau
• Ohio General Assembly — Joint Committee on Data Centers — Committee scope, hearing testimony, and five-point review framework cited throughout
• News 5 Cleveland / Morgan Trau — Original reporting on the Joint Committee hearing, resident testimony, NDA practices, and lawmaker statements
• U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) — Data center electricity consumption benchmarks and grid impact context
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources — Water usage and environmental permitting standards referenced in committee water/wildlife review