Ohio Data Center Power Expansion

planned

Ohio is experiencing rapid growth in data center developments, with 77 projects in development expected to account for nearly one-quarter of the state's total energy needs by 2040. To support these data centers, Senate Bill 294 proposes redefining 'clean' and 'reliable' energy to include natural gas, coal, and nuclear power sources, while effectively banning solar and wind projects. The bill sets a high standard requiring power plants to operate at a minimum capacity factor of 50 percent to be considered reliable, favoring fossil fuel and nuclear plants. A public-private partnership announced by the DOE and Department of Commerce aims to build a large-scale data center and 10 gigawatts of new power generation, including at least 9.2 gigawatts of natural gas generation, on federal land at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant.