Ohio Chamber of Commerce

The race for Ohio’s 9th U.S. Congressional district highlights contrasting records regarding data center development, as these facilities have received $2.5 billion in state and local tax incentives between 2017 and 2024. Derek Merrin voted for Ohio’s data center tax breaks while Marcy Kaptur has voiced concern that the companies should pay for draining power and water from local communities. Additionally, average residential utility bills in Ohio are projected to see a significant increase.

Vivek Ramaswamy and his super PAC spent $9 million on ads during a six-week period in the Ohio governor race, while Democratic candidate Amy Acton spent $100,000. Ramaswamy's campaign raised $50 million, partly self-funded, with contributions from billionaires including Elon Musk and Jeff Yass. Acton raised $18.5 million, calling her opponent's spending approach ineffective.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing over 7,000 public comments on a proposed permit for data center water discharge regulations, with no timeline for a decision. Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy claims economic growth will offset funding gaps from his proposed tax cuts, while Forbes reports Donald Trump earned $2.4 billion in the White House, three times his business revenue.

Ohio lawmakers are advancing Senate Bill 294, which could add hurdles for utility-scale solar and wind projects by requiring a 50% capacity factor for reliability. The bill, influenced by ALEC, faces criticism for favoring natural gas and nuclear energy over renewables, despite earlier efforts to level the energy market through Ohio House Bill 15.