LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Ohio's Democratic candidates for governor are calling for a pause on new data center construction, saying stronger standards are needed before additional projects move forward.
Ohio is home to more than 200 data centers, making it the fifth-largest state in the nation for data centers. Gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton and her running mate, Democratic lieutenant governor candidate David Pepper, said they support a conditional moratorium because they believe the costs to families and businesses are too high.
If elected, Acton and Pepper said they would push for stronger standards addressing issues such as energy costs and environmental impacts. They also said they want greater transparency before new data center projects are approved.
“The idea that public officials across the state are signing NDAs, non-disclosure agreements, and can't even tell their own citizens what the project even is is honestly outrageous. How can any citizen trust that this isn't going to undermine their community if everything's wrapped in secrecy. So, when we get there, no more NDAs, no more secrecy. is as much as possible," says David Pepper, Democratic Lt. Gov. Candidate.
Pepper also said the campaign wants to protect Ohio farmland by encouraging future data center developments to be built on brownfield and industrial sites instead.
“We want to prioritize that brownfields and industrial sites where data centers go if they're coming. We want to minimize any destruction or undermining of farmland as much as possible. We want to preserve farmland. It's precious in Ohio. So the more we can the the more these go on brownfields and less on farmland also the better,” adds Pepper.
Ohio voters will choose the state's next governor in the Nov. 3 election.
