Responsible Growth, Not Corporate Giveaways: My Position on Data Centers in Ohio

I strongly support good, responsible business growth here in Ohio. We need investment and jobs that strengthen our communities. But that growth must benefit average Ohioans—not just Silicon Valley tech bros chasing the next boom.

The rapid increase in data center proposals across our state raises serious concerns on multiple fronts, and none of it seems to deliver real, lasting benefits for the people who call Ohio home. These facilities drive up electricity demand that gets shifted to ratepayers, strain water resources, create noise and potential pollution near homes and farms, and permanently convert prime farmland into industrial sites—while providing only minimal permanent job growth to the area after the initial construction phase.

Worse, proposals to allow untreated or inadequately treated wastewater discharges could further damage our waterways. This would harm farmers who rely on clean water for irrigation, fishermen whose catches and livelihoods depend on healthy rivers and lakes, and the many families who enjoy boating, swimming, and recreation on Ohio’s lakes and streams.

Ohio has already lost about a million acres of farmland over the past 20 years. Once that land is paved over for these projects, it is likely gone forever as a productive agricultural resource that helps feed our state and the world.

While we certainly need more information about the full impact these data centers will have on our grid, our water, our environment, our rural communities, and our farmland, we cannot afford to wait. I agree with Rep. King that a study commission makes sense — that’s why I support HB 646 and the unanimous House vote to create it. At the same time, Ohio families need commonsense protections in place now, while the study moves forward.

That means:

• No more shifting costs to ratepayers. If data centers want to locate in Ohio, they must pay 100% for their own power upgrades, water infrastructure, and any impacts on our communities.

• No sweetheart tax deals. These are highly profitable companies. If they’re profitable enough to build here, they don’t need Ohio families footing the bill through tax abatements and exemptions.

• No NDAs hiding backroom deals. The public and local officials deserve full transparency—no secret agreements made behind closed doors.

• No exemptions for environmental impacts. Data centers must meet strong standards. They don’t get to pollute our farmlands and waterways with untreated wastewater, hot cooling water, or chemicals from their operations. The Ohio EPA should not fast-track a general permit that allows direct discharges into our rivers and streams without full pretreatment and rigorous oversight.

• Strong, independent studies and reforms. We must examine the real impacts and pass common-sense changes so we don’t repeat the mistakes other states have already made.

Ohio’s construction trades unions have voiced support for data center projects because of the short-term construction jobs they create. I understand their concerns and also value those good-paying union jobs. Ohio’s skilled tradespeople—electricians, plumbers, ironworkers, and more—deserve work at prevailing wages on safe, high-quality projects. That’s why I will always fight to ensure that any economic development and innovation projects built in Ohio use Ohio workers and uphold union labor standards. But short-term construction booms cannot come at the expense of higher bills and long-term strain on the very communities those workers call home.

We must respect the property rights of individual landowners. But we also have an obligation to consider the impact on their neighbors—who never planned to live next to a massive industrial facility—and to protect Ohio’s prime farmland that supplies our state and the world with high-quality food.

This isn’t about being anti-business. It’s about being pro-Ohio. Responsible growth means demanding that corporations play by fair rules and deliver real value to the working families and farmers who make this state strong.

As your candidate for State Representative in OH-84, I will fight for policies that put Ohio families and farms first: full cost accountability, transparency, environmental protections, and smart studies that guide responsible decisions.

Together, we can push for the kind of growth that actually works for Ohio.

— Arienne Childrey

Candidate for Ohio State Representative, OH-84

Paid for by Friends of Arienne Childrey