Columbus City Council will hold a hearing Wednesday to discuss the rapid growth of data centers in central Ohio. The hearing seeks to discuss concerns about energy and water usage, as well as what data centers contribute to economic and job growth.
Central Ohio is home to more than half of the state’s 200 data centers with 134 in the region. In comparison, Cleveland and Cincinnati each have around 25 data centers. A report by real-estate firm JLL said that the amount of data centers increased in Columbus by 1,800% between 2020 and 2025.
“We have received over 20 pieces of written testimony from folks who expressed thoughts and concerns related to data centers just in general. And a lot of their concerns have circulated around energy usage and water usage,” said Christopher Wyche, city council member and chair of Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee.
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The hearing will also involve testimony from tech companies and local municipalities.
Some central Ohio communities have pushed back hard against data center expansion. Jerome Township put a moratorium on the construction of new data centers in September of last year, citing noise pollution, increased electric bills and immense water usage.
“The point of the hearing in this being more informational is to hear about both sides,” Wyche said. “What are the benefits of having this level of investment in our region, but what are also the challenges that we need to own up to and recognize that currently exist and try to find solutions for the future that might look to address them.”
Columbus City Council does not have pending legislation on data centers at this time.
