March 30, 2026
Behind the Data Boom: What It Means for Ohio—and What OEC Is Doing
Nearly daily, we hear from Ohio community members raising concerns about new data center development. These calls began in late 2025 and continue, often citing noise, air pollution, and limited emergency response capacity—especially in rural areas reliant on volunteer services
Ohio has more than 200 data centers, about half in Central Ohio. Between 2017 and 2024, they received roughly $2.5 billion in state and local tax incentives, despite ongoing debate about reducing or ending those subsidies. This underscores the need for stronger policies to ensure tech companies are responsible neighbors, protect water and grid reliability, and do not shift development costs onto residents.
A data center is a physical facility that houses computers, servers, and systems used to run applications and manage data. Types include edge, colocation, and cloud facilities. We focus on hyperscale data centers, whose size and resource demands raise significant environmental concerns and warrant stronger protections.
Hyperscale data centers are massive, typically built on rural campuses for scale efficiencies. They require extensive infrastructure, including cooling and ventilation systems, fire suppression, power supplies, and backup generators
Rapid growth in generative AI, bitcoin mining, cloud computing, and the ‘internet of things’ is driving unprecedented demand for new data centers. One report (McKinsey and Co) estimates that global data center capacity could more than triple by 2030.
While the exact number of hyperscale data centers in Ohio is unclear, the state ranks second nationally, according to the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. These facilities have an outsized environmental footprint: they can exceed 10,000 square feet, house over 5,000 servers, and consume vast amounts of water and electricity around the clock.
Environmental Impacts of Data Centers
In 2023, U.S. data centers used an estimated 176 terawatt-hours of electricity—more than the entire state of New Jersey—and accounted for about four percent of national demand, a share projected to rise to six to 12 percent by 2028.
Hyperscale data centers can use 1–5 million gallons of water per day—up to 365 million gallons annually—roughly the same as 12,000 people. Over the next five years, they could withdraw as much as 150 billion gallons, comparable to the annual use of 4.6 million households.
Combined with other high‑demand uses like agriculture and critical minerals mining, and worsened by climate‑driven drought, data center water use could strain local supplies, leading to shortages, groundwater conflicts, and aquifer contamination.
Air pollution from hyperscale data centers is a growing concern. A recent study links nearby facilities to respiratory illness and premature death, and recommends requiring health impact assessments before siting new data centers.
What steps has OEC taken to address this growing environmental challenge?
In 2025, OEC released a Playbook for Communities Facing Large-Scale Development in Ohio. The toolkit equips local leaders and governments with resources to shape projects like data centers, including community engagement strategies, sample community benefits agreements, and model ordinances.
Late last year, OEC hired its first Central Ohio Regional Director, Annalisa Rocca, to focus on sustainable growth in the region. She recently presented evidence on the environmental impacts of hyperscale data centers to Columbus City Council, receiving positive feedback. Additionally, OEC’s Public Lands attorney helped oppose a proposed development near Cedar Bog, leading to a 12‑month moratorium in Urbana while environmental and community impacts are evaluated.
In January, OEC’s Law Center opposed Ohio EPA’s proposed general permit for data center wastewater discharges, arguing it failed to meet Clean Water Act requirements and improperly applied a general permit to an emerging industry with variable environmental impacts.
In February, we hired a legal intern focused on data center research, formed an internal rapid response team, and established policy pillars to coordinate our approach to data center policy and legislation.
Upcoming work includes strengthening community response efforts and hosting an April virtual policy briefing for lawmakers.
Data Center Accountability: Key Wins to Date
Shaping policy at the highest level
-Successfully secured a credible scientific voice and bipartisan representation in the House version of the Data Center Commission bill—ensuring that environmental, water, and community impacts are built into the policymaking process from the start.
Influencing decisions across Ohio
-Delivered well‑received testimony statewide, including in high‑stakes cases such as the proposed moratorium near Cedar Bog, and earned formal affirmation from Columbus City Council to include our organization as an ongoing advisor on data center development.
Empowering communities with practical tools
-Our OEC data center tools are now actively used by communities across Ohio, giving local leaders the knowledge and structure needed to engage effectively. These tools are directly linked to our playbook, translating statewide strategy into local action.
Driving regulatory accountability
-Submitted formal comments to the Ohio EPA on industrial water withdrawals, joining hundreds of public voices—but standing out by grounding concerns in science, policy expertise, and long‑term water stewardship.
