Ohio lawmakers this week advanced House Bill 646, legislation that would create a commission to study the impacts of large-scale data center development, including electricity demand, infrastructure needs and water use.

After being blocked from presenting live testimony, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) submitted its analysis to the committee, in an attempt to ensure manufacturers’ concerns were part of the debate.

In that written testimony, OMA Energy Engineer John Seryak of RunnerStone LLC pointed to findings from PJM’s Independent Market Monitor showing that forecasts tied to unbuilt data centers increased regional electricity capacity costs by more than $21 billion over three years.

“When forecasts exceed demand, customers bear the cost of overbuilt infrastructure through higher rates,” Seryak wrote.

OMA said the findings underscore a central issue in Ohio’s energy debate: electricity planning must be grounded in verified demand, not speculative projections that customers may be forced to finance years before the load ever materializes. 3/4/2026