Ohio Data Center News

Dec 17, 2025

What is a data center used for? Are they bad for the environment?

Indianapolis Star explains what data centers are and why Hoosiers are concerned about AI data centers.

Main explanation & announcement: The article defines data centers and summarizes the current Indiana situation: more than 80 data centers in Indiana (Data Center Map, as of Dec. 16, 2025), with 35 in Marion County, 16 in Fort Wayne, 13 in South Bend, 8 in Gary, and at least 24 proposed projects (Citizens Action Coalition). It references specific projects including a Google proposal withdrawn in Franklin Township (Oct. 2025) and Meta’s 700,000-square-foot AI data center in Jeffersonville (Meta said the project would have more than 1,250 workers on site at peak construction and had promised 100 permanent jobs when opened).
Background & supporting details: The piece reports concerns from the Citizens Action Coalition about utility cost increases, air/climate pollution, intense water consumption, and noise pollution; cites an estimate that a single AI data center can use 1 to 5 million gallons of water per day for evaporative cooling; and notes the Midwest (IL, OH, KY, MI, IN) has 592 data centers planned or operational (Data Center Map).

Dec 17, 2025

The next big shifts in AI workloads and hyperscaler strategies

McKinsey & Company outlines how AI-driven workloads are forcing US hyperscalers to redesign data center strategies, power sourcing, and campus architectures while rapidly scaling capacity.

AI demand is expected to expand US data center power capacity from ~30+ GW (2025) to 90+ GW (2030, ~22% CAGR), with inference workloads growing at 35% CAGR to >90 GW and training at 22% CAGR to >60 GW, driving shifts toward high-density, liquid-cooled, AI-ready campuses, modular builds, and tier 2 markets where power, land, and permitting are more accessible and faster.
Hyperscalers are restructuring capital and infrastructure models, including JVs, special-purpose vehicles, lease‑to‑own deals, behind‑the‑meter power (e.g., New APR Energy’s 100 MW+ mobile gas turbines), and hydrogen-powered microgrid campuses, while retrofitting existing sites at $4–7M/MW for co‑locators and $20–30M/MW for hyperscalers to support GPU‑intensive AI and consolidating into multifacility campuses projected to represent ~70% of deployments by 2030.

Dec 16, 2025

Ford scraps EV plans, shifts to hybrids, EREVs and low-cost models

Ford Motor Co. announced a major shift in its electrification, vehicle lineup and stationary energy storage strategy on Monday.

Main announcement — strategic realignment and product plan: Ford is shifting away from pure EV focus toward hybrids, extended-range EVs and more affordable EVs, aiming to offer a hybrid or multi-energy powertrain for nearly every vehicle by 2030 and targeting ~50% of global sales to be hybrids/extended-range EVs/EVs by 2030 (up from 17% in 2025). The company will launch five new affordable vehicles by 2030 (four assembled in the U.S.) and put Model e on a path to profitability by 2029. Key production timelines: the first EV on the new Universal EV Platform — a fully connected midsize pickup — will be assembled at Louisville Assembly beginning in 2027; the Tennessee Truck Plant will produce all-new truck models beginning in 2029; the Ohio Assembly Plant will build a new gas and hybrid commercial van starting in 2029.
Background, implementation details and capital/operations actions: Ford will scale its stationary battery storage business, converting its Kentucky plant to manufacture 5 MWh+ DC container systems for customers including data centers and utilities, with first shipments in 2027 and 20 GWh annual capacity planned. The company expects to invest around $2 billion over the next two years to scale battery storage and produce smaller Amp-hour cells at BlueOval Battery Park Michigan. Ford expects about $19.5 billion in non-recurring costs tied to the strategy (majority in Q4) and ~$5.5 billion specifically related to canceled vehicle programs and plant retooling (majority paid in 2026, remainder in 2027). Ford also announced a partnership with Renault to launch two EU EVs (first expected early 2028) and plans to hire thousands to boost U.S. production, including pickups at BlueOval City.

Dec 16, 2025

Ohio EPA looks to streamline water permits for data centers

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued a draft general NPDES permit to streamline wastewater and stormwater discharge permitting for data centers.

Main action: The Ohio EPA released a draft general NPDES permit covering wastewater and stormwater discharges from data centers to streamline application and approval; eligible facilities would submit a notice of intent rather than an individual permit, with the agency saying the general permit includes the same or more monitoring and reporting requirements. The draft excludes certain discharges (for example, those within 500 yards upstream of a public water-supply surface intake). The permit is open for public comment through Dec. 17, and a public hearing is scheduled Dec. 17 at 2:30 p.m. (Lazarus Government Center, Columbus, and virtual — advance registration required). Contact for in-person testimony: mary.mccarron@epa.ohio.gov, 614-644-2160.
Background and details: Ohio has more than 200 data centers; currently each must obtain an individual NPDES permit. University of Cincinnati law professor Brad Mank said general permits are an expedited process that could make Ohio more attractive to developers. Environmental group Save Ohio Parks opposes the draft, citing the permit’s own language that it may lower water quality and noting the draft does not address PFAS; the agency says the draft is intended to accommodate social and economic development. The article references state/local tax incentives for data centers (see Signal Ohio link about $2.5 billion in tax breaks since 2017).

Dec 12, 2025

Roundtable: Data Centers as Energy Ecosystems

Data Center Frontier convened an Executive Roundtable Q4 2025 where industry panelists (Ecolab, EdgeConneX, Rehlko, Schneider Electric) outlined how data centers are evolving into integrated energy and water ecosystems and active participants in grid and resource stability.

Main announcement: Panelists described concrete shifts toward hybrid power architectures, onsite generation and long-duration storage (options cited: natural gas, solar, wind, SMRs, geothermal, energy storage) and heat reuse / liquid cooling strategies. EdgeConneX noted markets like Texas and Ohio are forecast to add at least 5 Gigawatts of capacity next year, and EdgeConneX is supported by EQT and its portfolio companies to accelerate integrated AI-enabled data center offerings.
Background and details: Panelists emphasized three pillars—Policy, Technology (advanced batteries, nuclear, hydrogen, hydrogen-ready engines/fuel cells) and The Digital Thread (real-time data sharing and standards). They also highlighted closed-loop water reuse, partnerships with utilities and renewable projects, and that elements of the article were produced with assistance from OpenAI’s GPT5; author contact: mvincent@endeavorb2b.com.

Dec 11, 2025

Dual Feed: NextEra Energy, TotalEnergies, ENGIE, NIPSCO, ProPetro, Claibrant Energy, DTE Energy, Redwood Materials, KULR, Honeywell

NextEra Energy is repositioning as a bespoke energy-infrastructure partner for AI-scale data centers, announcing large partnerships (notably with Google Cloud) and plans including a restart of the 615 MW Duane Arnold nuclear plant under a 25-year PPA targeted to return to service by 2029.

Main announcement & actions: NextEra is sharpening focus on data-center customers with a backlog ~6 GW earmarked for technology/data centers and an operating+backlog >10.5 GW; it is pursuing a diversified portfolio (renewables, nuclear restart at Duane Arnold 615 MW targeted 2029 under a 25-year PPA, long-duration storage, gas) and announced a landmark partnership with Google Cloud to build multiple gigawatt-scale campuses with dedicated generation and capacity infrastructure.
Background & other concrete details: Other 2025 industry moves include TotalEnergies–Google 15-year PPA for 1.5 TWh (Montpelier, Ohio); ENGIE–Meta 600 MW Swenson Ranch Solar (Texas), online 2027; NIPSCO/GenCo plan up to 3 GW dispatchable for Amazon including two 1.3 GW gas units + 400 MW / 1,600 MWh BESS with ~$7 billion estimated capex; PROPWR (ProPetro) 60 MW hybrid BESS + reciprocating engines for a Midwest hyperscaler; Aligned + Calibrant 31 MW / 62 MWh on-site BESS coming online 2026; DTE Energy seeking approval to serve a proposed 1.4 GW AI data center in Michigan (linked to Oracle/OpenAI); vendor announcements include Redwood Energy (battery repurposing), KULR‘s AI Datacenter BESS platform, and Honeywell + LS Electric integrated microgrid solutions.

Dec 11, 2025

House Passes Bill to Protect Energy Supply and Lower Energy Costs

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 3638, the Electric Supply Chain Act, led by Rep. Bob Latta, to mandate regular Department of Energy reviews of electricity supply chain risks and vulnerabilities.

The bill requires the Department of Energy to regularly review risks and vulnerabilities in supply chains for electricity generation, transmission, and key grid components, with the stated aim of preventing outages and lowering energy costs for American families.
Statements from House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain and Rep. Bob Latta emphasize grid reliability, energy security as national security, expanding domestic energy production, and ensuring the grid can power future artificial intelligence data centers, while urging the Senate to act on the legislation.

Dec 10, 2025

DCF Trends Summit 2025 - Scaling AI: Adaptive Reuse, Power-Rich Sites, and the New GPU Frontier

Data Center Frontier published a panel session from the 2025 Data Center Frontier Trends Summit summarizing how the industry is using adaptive reuse, modular systems, and behind-the-meter power to fast-track GPU deployments amid power and interconnection constraints.

Main announcement / action: The panel (moderated by Sean Farney, JLL) presented concrete strategies—adaptive reuse of legacy industrial sites, liquid cooling, modular prefabricated skids, and behind-the-fence generation/microgrids—to unlock AI capacity; key metrics cited include U.S. colocation vacancy at 2.3%, ~5.4 GW of colocation absorption tracked for the year, an ~8 GW build pipeline (≈73% pre-leased), and a specific adaptive-reuse project in Sandusky, Ohio unlocking over 1 GW of capacity.
Background and implementation details: The panel highlighted interconnection wait times up to eight years, recommended energy-as-a-service and onsite generation to bridge delays, discussed RNG blending (10%+), and referenced infrastructure cost examples (utilities estimating $120 million+ for 40–80 MW interconnection upgrades); event details:
- Date: Data Center Frontier Trends Summit (Aug. 26–28, 2025).
- Location: Reston, Virginia, USA.
- Agenda/subject: Panel titled “Scaling AI: The Role of Adaptive Reuse and Power-Rich Sites in GPU Deployment” covering GPU deployment speed, power strategies, cooling technologies, adaptive reuse projects, and AI-driven design/operations.

Dec 10, 2025

Top Environmental Victories of 2025

The Sierra Club announces a roundup of its top environmental victories in 2025.

Major announced actions: The article catalogs specific legal, legislative, and advocacy wins including: stopping a proposed public-lands sell-off after Congressional withdrawal; passage of the Climate Change Superfund Act in New York (following Vermont in 2024) and introduced bills in California, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Maine; legal victories blocking Commonwealth LNG (coastal use permit terminated) and two lawsuits creating guardrails on data centers in Kansas and Michigan; NEVI program restart unlocking $2.7 billion for EV charging; and a $744 million jury verdict against Chevron for coastal damages in Louisiana.
Background and additional details: The piece lists species and land protections (Northern Rockies wolves, Colorado bison, Rice’s whales), closure of Merrimack Station (final New England coal plant) and repeal of an Ohio coal-bailout that would have cost nearly half a billion dollars, passage of Utah’s balcony solar law allowing small plug-in systems without utility approval, a coalition delivering ~500,000 public comments to defend the Roadless Rule (including 40,000 from Sierra Club advocates), and a world-record origami action sending more than 86,000 paper fish to oppose Enbridge’s Line 5.

Dec 9, 2025

Powering the AI Era: Preparing the grid for the data centre boom

Parikshit Pareek and S.K. Soonee call for anticipatory grid planning and regulatory reforms for India’s rapidly expanding data centre sector.

Main action: The authors urge mandatory early disclosure and grid-integration rules: require submission of planned IT load, PUE, UPS configuration, backup mode and commissioning timelines as part of interconnection approvals; enforce voltage ride-through, harmonic limits and telemetry at the point-of-interconnection, and embed location-based incentives and zoning to diversify load away from metro clusters (Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad). Include concrete references to the National Data Centre Policy 2025, Central Electricity Authority planning criteria, and adoption of standards such as IEEE 2781 / IEEE 2800 / IEEE 1547 / ISO 17800 / IEC 62786-102.
Background and supporting details: The article documents current and projected capacity: 1,263 MW (April 2025, Colliers India) rising to >4,500 MW by 2030 (Colliers); alternative forecasts include ICRA 2,000–2,100 MW by FY2027, JLL ~1,825 MW by FY2027, and IEEFA high-growth 9 GW by 2030. It cites examples and policy precedents: Google’s gigawatt-scale Vizag announcement, AEP Ohio data-centre tariff (Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, July 2025) with rules for loads >25 MW, and Texas Senate Bill 6 (2025) requiring controllable shutdown capability. The authors recommend tariff redesign (energy, capacity/reservation, network access, reliability surcharges, green incentives) and integration of data centres into demand response and ancillary service programmes with verifiable telemetry and flexibility payments.

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