Data Centers and the Power Bill | Columbus News

Governor Mike DeWine has joined 23 other governors in backing a pledge originally championed by Donald Trump, demanding big tech companies pay for the electricity powering their sprawling data centers—now booming across Ohio and nationwide. As AI and tech demand surge, so does energy use, forcing a tough choice: let consumers shoulder the cost, or force companies to invest in the grid and local communities. But backlash is mounting—residents fear environmental strain and resource overuse, with some towns halting new projects and pushing for constitutional bans. DeWine himself reversed course on a major sales tax break after realizing the state would lose over $1.6 billion. Even political figures like Senator Jon Husted are feeling the heat, introducing legislation to ensure tech giants foot their own energy bills—balancing innovation with fairness. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f830c1354079a08a