Ohio communities push back against data centers amid AI boom
( NewsNation ) — President Donald Trump is heading to Ohio on Wednesday to rally support for Republican Senate and gubernatorial candidates as he fights to keep the election map as red as possible.
But beyond the candidates, voters are also weighing in on a growing debate over the future of artificial intelligence — and the massive data centers needed to power it.
Ohio has 21 local ballot measures this year related to data centers, the most of any state. The proposals range from outright bans to restrictions on the facilities' size, energy and water consumption, and where they can be built.
Public opinion on these massive facilities is divided.
Trump: Data centers 'great' for communities
Critics warn that data centers could drive up electricity costs, strain local water supplies and create environmental concerns, including noise and light pollution. Those concerns can be especially significant in smaller, rural communities where the facilities are being proposed.
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Supporters, including Trump, argue data centers can bring substantial economic benefits by attracting investment, creating jobs and generating revenue for local communities.
"We don't want to get controversial. The community that they're being built (in), they're great," Trump said of data centers. "They give you a lot of money and everything."
Trump also encouraged communities to negotiate financial benefits with developers, saying they could ask companies to pay residents thousands of dollars.
He pushed back on concerns that data centers would strain the nation's electricity supply, arguing new power plants built to support the facilities could ultimately provide additional electricity to the grid.
Ohio's AI boom debate
The debate has also reached Capitol Hill, where lawmakers have considered proposals to protect consumers from rising energy costs associated with data center development. But legislation aimed at shielding ratepayers has stalled in Congress, leaving local voters with an opportunity to weigh in on the issue directly.
NewsNation spoke with Ohio residents and community leaders about the stakes.
"Our goal for data centers in northwest Ohio is to build wealth for our communities, so that our schools are funded, our parks are funded," said Gary Thompson, of the Northwest Ohio Regional Growth Partnership.
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Others say the focus should be on how the facilities are powered and what that means for surrounding communities.
"I think it's really a choice about how are they going to power the data centers and what are the best ways to do that," said Ohio resident Pete Barnes.
As the debate intensifies, significant money is also flowing into the political fight. Technology companies and data center developers have donated millions of dollars to candidates on both sides of the aisle, hoping to influence the policy decisions that could shape the industry's future.
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