Request for Legislation to Protect Communities from Data Center Impacts

I am writing to urge you to introduce legislation that would protect Ohio communities from the negative impacts of data centers. As these facilities continue to expand across our state, residents are facing serious consequences without adequate safeguards in place. Data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity and water while providing minimal employment benefits to local communities. A single large data center can use as much power as tens of thousands of homes, straining our electrical grid and driving up utility costs for residents and small businesses. The water usage for cooling systems can deplete local water supplies, particularly concerning during drought conditions. These facilities also generate significant noise pollution from cooling equipment that runs continuously, disrupting the quality of life for nearby residents. Despite their massive footprint and resource consumption, data centers typically employ far fewer workers than traditional industrial facilities of comparable size, offering little economic benefit to offset their environmental impact. I am asking you to introduce comprehensive legislation that would establish mandatory environmental impact assessments before data center construction, require transparent reporting of energy and water consumption, set noise pollution limits for residential areas, and ensure that data center operators contribute fairly to local infrastructure costs they impose on communities. Our communities deserve protection from industrial development that extracts resources while providing minimal benefit to residents. Other states are beginning to address these concerns through regulation, and Ohio should lead rather than lag on this issue. I respectfully request that you prioritize this legislation and keep me informed of your efforts to protect constituents from unchecked data center expansion. Thank you for considering this important matter.