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Residents and stakeholders urge data center study, call for transparency and protections
Summary
House Bill 646 would stand up a study commission to examine data center impacts including water use, grid effects, land use, environmental and community concerns; witnesses ranged from industry and chambers citing economic benefits to residents and farmers raising concerns about water, noise, EMF, land loss, and calls for moratoriums.
The committee heard extensive testimony on House Bill 646, which would create a time‑limited study commission to examine the proliferation of data centers in Ohio.
Proponents including the Buckeye Institute and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce argued for evidence‑based policy. Greg Lawson (Buckeye Institute) emphasized national‑security and technology‑competition stakes; Rick Carfagna (Ohio Chamber) described the industry's economic contribution, citing research that estimated roughly 95,200 jobs supported in 2024 and approximately $1 billion in combined state and local tax revenue, and…
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