Ohio Data Center Intel

Recent Ohio data center news

• Apr 29, 2026

  Energy Subcommittee Hearing Focuses on Affordability, Grid Modernization

  The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee questioned utility experts on seven proposed bills about AI and its effects on the energy grid.

  • Main announcement: The Subcommittee reviewed seven bills that would increase agency collaboration, establish a public clearinghouse for “advanced transmission technologies”, and direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to study the real impacts of data centers on utility price hikes; testimony included Arizona Corporation Commission Chairman Nick Meyers and other state and business representatives.
  • Background and details: Rep. Bob Latta emphasized the administration’s goal to out-compete China and to “refocus Federal authorities on policies that matter most to the American people: abundant and reliable energy supplies at an affordable price”; Rep. Kathy Castor urged use of modern, fast-emerging tools and cited a Brattle report finding that raising grid utilization above 53 percent could save ratepayers more than $100 billion over the next decade. Meyers warned against overly uniform federal approaches, noting the West’s grid ties to BPA, SRP, WAPA, and cited limiting constraints such as substations, transformers, and interconnection facilities as key issues (also highlighting interconnection queues, supply chain bottlenecks, and permitting reforms).
• Apr 29, 2026

  Forward,Faster: The Environmental Dangers of Data Centers and Semiconductor Manufacturing Plantsnological

  Intel has announced plans to build two semiconductor manufacturing fabs in New Albany, Ohio and has invested nearly $30 billion in the project.

  • Project details: Intel selected New Albany, Ohio (a few miles northeast of Columbus) as the site for two semiconductor fabs, with nearly $30 billion invested for development and manufacturing; this follows federal policy under the CHIPS and Science Act to boost domestic semiconductor production.
  • Background and related concerns: The column cites data center electricity demand (Ohio projected to reach 11% of state electricity use by 2030, up from 5.3%) and rising greenhouse gas emissions at major tech firms (Google +50%, Amazon +33%, Microsoft +23%, Meta +60% over five years), and calls for greater transparency and public engagement from developers regarding environmental impacts.
• Apr 28, 2026

  Environmental Law Society’s 2026 Spring Climate Conference: A Recap

  The Environmental Law Society hosted its second annual Spring Climate Conference on February 27, 2026 at CSU|Law.

  • Event details: The conference was a three-CLE event titled “Demand and Supply”, featuring three panels that covered clean energy tax incentives, solar and microgrid projects (Brooklyn Solar Farm, Euclid Microgrid), community energy legislation (discussion of House Bills 15 and 303), and data center energy and water impacts; a recording is available at the provided CSU link.
  • Participants and follow-up: Panelists included Mike Foley, Alexis Kim, Joe Price, Sharon Ray, Tristan Rader, Kurt Princic, Addison Caruso, and Helena Volzer; the conference dovetailed with JDO student programming, the microgrid is shown 4.5 minutes into the recording, and the organizers intend a 2027 conference focused on federal policy.
• Apr 28, 2026

  California Utilities Have a Solution to Soaring Energy Prices: More Data Centers

  PG&E is advancing a policy and commercial push to attract large data center loads as a means to lower electric rates for California ratepayers.

  • Main announcement/action: PG&E has celebrated the delivery of its first large data-center customer in San Jose and is actively courting hyperscalers; the utility announced a rate decrease in March 2026 and asserts that each 1 GW of data center load could reduce electric rates by 1–2%, while forecasting up to 12.6 GW of potential data-center load from current applications (enough to power 8.4 million homes). CPUC also approved Electric Rule No. 30 (July 2025) requiring applicants to pay transmission upgrade costs upfront to protect ratepayers.
  • Background and other details: Regulatory and research sources (Brattle Group and LBNL) show California’s retail electricity prices rose markedly 2019–2024 (California at 30.29 cents/kWh); Cal Advocates warns transmission upgrades could run in the billions and recommends cost-responsibility rules. State-level bills (Sen. Scott Padilla, March) would streamline environmental review (ELDP incentives) and impose tariffs to ensure data centers offset costs; a March presidential Rate Payer Protection Pledge was signed by major tech firms (Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, xAI).
• Apr 28, 2026 · IT Brief Asia

  Vertiv acquires Strategic Thermal Labs in cooling push

  Vertiv has announced it has acquired Strategic Thermal Labs.

  • Main announcement: Vertiv has acquired Strategic Thermal Labs to expand its engineering capabilities in liquid cooling for dense computing systems, adding expertise in cold-plate design, server-side liquid cooling, and thermal validation; the business will support customers through design, integration, commissioning and ongoing operations.
  • Background and details: The acquisition strengthens Vertiv’s thermal-chain strategy to manage heat from chips through supporting infrastructure; Vertiv is based in Westerville, Ohio and operates in more than 130 countries. The company said the transaction will not change its support for open, interoperable infrastructure and aims to improve simulation/emulation of dense compute conditions.
• Apr 24, 2026

  Episode for April 24, 2026

  Gov. Josh Shapiro announced two Western Pennsylvania coal-fired power plants will push back their retirement dates by at least four more years.

  • Main action: Gov. Josh Shapiro announced the two Western Pennsylvania coal-fired power plants will stay open through 2032, providing additional time to meet water pollution standards and to help satisfy rising energy demand from data centers.
  • Background and other details: The episode (April 24, 2026) also reports Ohio residents’ concerns about planned fracking in a remote natural area, coverage of native hawthorn trees Crataegus pennsylvanica and their habitat value for the scarlet tanager (an estimated 13% of its breeding population in Pennsylvania), and a farm–nonprofit partnership redirecting spoiled produce to a farm where chickens eat the food as a “salad bar” to reduce waste and fight hunger.
• Apr 24, 2026

  Wärtsilä wins 790MW off-grid power order for Texas data centre

  Wärtsilä has announced an order to provide a 790MW off-grid power solution for a new data centre in Texas.

  • Project details: The order covers a 790MW off-grid power plant using 42 Wärtsilä 50SG engines running on natural gas; equipment delivery scheduled for 2028 and full operations expected late 2029. The order was recorded in Q2 2026 and is intended to provide a dedicated, uninterrupted power supply independent of the main grid.
  • Background and technical specifics: Wärtsilä states the engines have an average heat rate of 6,800 Btu/kWh, are designed for high-temperature operation in Texas, use significantly less water and fuel than traditional alternatives, and are planned to allow future integration with renewable energy. The project adds to more than 2.4GW of Wärtsilä capacity delivered to US data centres; the article also references a recent 412MW contract for a hyperscale Ohio project using 40 Wärtsilä 34SG engines.
• Apr 23, 2026

  Rethinking Load Growth: New Partnerships Between Power Developers and Midstream Natural Gas Companies

  Freddie Sarhan, CEO of Sapphire Technologies, argues that recovered energy from natural gas infrastructure (pressure drop and waste-heat recovery) is a commercially viable, fast-deploying source of clean, baseload-like power that can help meet accelerated load growth.

  • Main announcement/action: The commentary urges developers and utilities to pursue turboexpander and waste-heat-to-power projects at existing pipeline regulating facilities and compressor stations, noting an analysis identifying more than 3,500 regulating facilities with suitable flow regimes for power recovery, eligibility for the Section 48E clean electricity investment tax credit (via the One Big Beautiful Bill, 2025), and deployment timelines measured in months rather than years.
  • Background and supporting details: The piece cites sharply rising demand forecasts — five-year utility peak load growth increased from 24 GW to 166 GW through 2030 and data center demand could reach 176 GW by 2035 — plus system constraints (average 10-year transmission project timelines; an ~2,600 GW interconnection queue). It also references ATTs increasing transmission capacity by 10%–30% and that advanced conductors could save $85 billion in system costs by 2035, while states including Virginia, Minnesota, Colorado, and Maine are requiring ATT evaluations in IRPs.
• Apr 23, 2026

  Region struggling with pollution, annual air quality report shows

  The American Lung Association released its 27th annual “State of the Air” report.

  • Main findings: The report rates counties on ozone and particle pollution for 2022–2024, finding most west-central Illinois counties failed for high-ozone days; Sangamon County recorded 21 orange-status high-ozone days (2022–2024) and the Springfield-Jacksonville-Lincoln area ranked 38th worst nationally for ozone. It also reports Illinois has 229 existing or approved data centers, and cites U.S. data centers consuming ~4.4% of national electricity today with projections to double or triple by 2028 and potentially account for up to 12% of U.S. electricity within the next decade.
  • Context and calls to action: The report criticizes recent EPA actions as weakening protections and states “Hard-fought progress is now at grave risk.” It calls on the EPA to reaffirm public-health protections and urges Illinois policymakers to pass the Hazel M. Johnson Cumulative Impacts Ordinance, support state legislation to curb warehouse pollution, and expand zero-emission vehicle infrastructure. The report notes 33.5 million children live in areas that received a failing grade for at least one measure of air pollution.
• Apr 22, 2026

  Lordstown to file appeal over EPA permit

  The Village of Lordstown approved having Solicitor Matt Ries file an appeal with the Environmental Appeals Board over the Ohio EPA’s renewal of a wastewater discharge (NPDES) permit for Clean Energy Future Trumbull LLC (Trumbull Energy Center).

  • Main action: The Village of Lordstown Council approved authorizing Solicitor Matt Ries to file an appeal with the Environmental Appeals Board challenging the Ohio EPA renewal of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit allowing discharge into Mud Run Creek; the article states the EPA granted the renewal earlier this month. The Trumbull Energy Center is scheduled to begin commercial operations in the spring and purchases water from Warren for discharge into Mud Run Creek.
  • Additional local actions and timelines:Planning/Zoning and Moratorium committees will hold a joint meeting to address data centers and related issues (no date given); council approved a payment not to exceed $500 to Brian Frantz to attend a meeting about data centers; Planning/Zoning Commission will meet 6:30 p.m. May 11 for CSX-TBSI to resubmit a site plan for a planned parking area, and a public hearing is scheduled before the June 1 council meeting on recommended zoning additions/changes including moratoriums. Council also approved multiple farmland agricultural-district placement applications (list of property owners provided).