Skip to main content
State Seal State Seal State Seal
Home Button Home Button Home Button
 
 

Holmes, Chavez Announce Joint Data Center Committee

May 13, 2026
Republican Newsroom

Image that says Press Release and includes a picture of Rep. Holmes

Chairman of the Ohio House Energy Committee Adam Holmes (R-Nashport) and Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee Brian Chavez (R-Marietta) today announced the launch of a joint legislative effort to study and discuss data centers in Ohio.  

Representative Holmes and Senator Chavez hosted a press conference at the Ohio Statehouse earlier today to announce the Ohio Joint Data Center Committee, which will work to ensure that Ohio citizens have accurate, relevant, and usable information concerning the economic, environmental, and security impacts of Ohio’s data center development through discussion with stakeholders, interested parties, and Ohio citizens, including data centers’ impact on the regions in which they are located. 

“Energy and information are not only the economic drivers for the 21st century; they are also a national security imperative,” said Representative Holmes. “It’s crucial Ohio establishes sound data center development policies that benefit all Ohioans.”

“We are embarking on this fact-finding mission to understand the perceived and actual impacts of data centers and to share reliable information with local officials and concerned citizens,” said Senator Chavez.

Speaker of the Ohio House Matt Huffman (R-Lima) tasked the following members from the House to serve on the Committee:

House Co-Chair: State Representative Adam Holmes

  • Representative Thad Claggett (R-Licking County) 
  • Representative Heidi Workman (R-Rootstown) 
  • Representative Chris Glassburn (D-North Olmsted) 
     

Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) tasked the following members from the Senate to serve on the Committee. 

Senate Co-Chair: State Senator Brian Chavez 

  • Senator Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) 
  • Senator Shane Wilkin (R-Hillsboro)
  • Senator Willis E Blackshear Jr. (D-Dayton)

The first meeting of the committee is expected to be held May 27th. 

The committee will help to serve as a response to the rapid growth of data centers in Ohio and the many unanswered questions regarding their development. Key concerns include energy demand, the use of agricultural land, noise pollution, water use and disposal, and national security, among other important issues. According to some estimates, roughly 200 data centers are operating in Ohio, and additional facilities are being proposed. 

To watch the press conference, click here.