As Ohio lawmakers examine the rapid growth of data centers, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) is urging policymakers to separate fact from fear.

At the first joint meeting of the House and Senate select committee on data centers, state environmental officials told lawmakers that data centers are reviewed under the same permitting frameworks that apply to other industrial, commercial and infrastructure projects. They also said regulators have not identified data centers as sources of “forever chemicals,” and that backup-generator emissions are regulated under state and federal clean air laws.

“Ohio should not build policy around panic,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “Data centers should meet the same rules as everyone else, but they should not be turned into a political scapegoat or used by monopoly utilities to justify inflated forecasts, special tariffs and customer-funded risk. Ohio needs facts, not fear.”

OMA is scheduled to testify before the select committee Thursday, June 11. 5/27/2026