State Rep. Newman Votes in Support of Establishing the Ohio Data Center Study Commission

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – State Representative Johnathan Newman (R-Troy) yesterday voted in support of House Bill 646 – legislation establishing the Ohio Data Center Study Commission.

This bill is in response to the rapid growth of data centers in Ohio and the many unanswered questions regarding their development. Key concerns include the use of agricultural land, noise pollution, water use and disposal, energy demand, national security, and much more. According to some estimates, roughly 200 data centers are operating in Ohio, and additional facilities are being proposed. 

“We must make sure to house data centers in the U.S. for national security reasons,” said Newman. “But we also must make sure Ohioans are not subsidizing the massive consumption of power and water. We need to remind data companies that Ohio should not be home to all their centers; let’s put more of them out in the desert instead of on our precious farmland.”

House Bill 646 would do the following:

Create the Data Center Study Commission within the Department of Development, with members appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the House, and President of the Senate that meet certain criteria
Require the Commission to examine various topics regarding data centers
Require the Commission to submit a report of its findings and any legislative recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly not more than six months after the bill’s effective date
 

If enacted, the first Commission meeting must occur 45 days after the bill’s effective date.

House Bill 646 now heads to the Ohio Senate for consideration.