U.S. Reps. Troy Balderson and Bob Latta brought the federal energy debate to the Ohio Manufacturers’ Energy Conference, discussing permitting, generation, reliability and the policies shaping how quickly new projects can move.

Balderson urged manufacturers to keep Washington connected to what they are seeing on the ground. “We need the information that you have,” he told attendees. “You’re there on a daily basis.”

Latta was equally direct about who should pay when major new loads connect to the grid.

“We want to make sure that the ratepayers aren’t paying for a data center that comes into the area,” Latta said. “If you’ve got costs that are being incurred, that data center should be the one doing it, not the customer.”

That same scrutiny has to apply to the regulators and grid operators whose decisions ultimately show up on customer bills.

“Congress is asking the right questions, but regulators and grid operators need to start demanding better answers,” said Lindsey Short, managing director of advocacy and energy services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “Before billions of dollars land on customers’ bills, somebody needs to prove the forecasts are real, the investment is necessary and the costs are going to the right place.” 8/27/2026