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COLUMBUS — A newly formed state legislative committee will hold its first meeting today to review the rapid expansion of data centers across Ohio and examine their impact on local communities.
The House Select Committee on Data Centers is scheduled to gather at 10 a.m. in the Senate Finance Hearing Room at the Ohio Statehouse. The joint legislative panel, announced earlier this month, is tasked with collecting and sharing information regarding the economic, environmental, and security effects of data center development.
State Rep. Adam Holmes, a Republican from Nashport, and State Sen. Brian Chavez, a Republican from Marietta, serve as co-chairs of the committee. Lawmakers formed the panel as a fact-finding mission to address growing public interest and answer questions from local officials and residents about how the facilities affect infrastructure.
The agenda for the initial session focuses on invited testimony from several state agencies and industry organizations. Scheduled participants include representatives from the Data Center Coalition, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the Ohio Department of Development.
Estimates show that roughly 200 data centers currently operate in Ohio, with additional projects proposed. The facilities have drawn attention due to their substantial demand on resources.
Lawmakers noted that the committee will study several key issues during its review process. These include the impact on electricity demands, the conversion of agricultural land for industrial use, potential noise pollution, water consumption and wastewater disposal, and implications for national security.
Some Valley communities are placing temporary freezes on new data centers to prevent them from moving in without public input. Boardman Trustees recently approved a one-year moratorium to block the facilities from being built within township limits while they study zoning options. Hubbard City Council also directed its law director to draft similar freeze legislation following pushback from roughly 200 residents over a proposed project.
Other nearby areas enacting or considering similar moratoriums include Lordstown, Niles, Weathersfield, Hubbard Township, Vienna, and Bazetta. Local leaders say they want time to study how the large complexes affect utilities and neighborhoods. Residents frequently voice concerns regarding heavy water and energy consumption, low job creation, and constant noise from the cooling equipment.
House Speaker Matt Huffman appointed committee members. The bipartisan panel will continue to hold discussions with stakeholders and residents in the coming months to help shape state policies.
RELATED COVERAGE: Report: Data center tax breaks cost Ohio billions
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