Ohio families are being asked to shoulder the cost of a rapidly growing industry—and many are only just realizing it.

Across our state, large-scale data centers are expanding at a historic pace. These facilities power the digital world, but they also require enormous amounts of electricity and water to operate. As demand rises, so do the costs of expanding our energy grid and water infrastructure. Right now, those costs are increasingly being passed on to everyday Ohioans through higher utility bills.

At the same time, many communities feel they have little say in what gets built in their own backyards. Farmland is being cleared, water resources are under pressure, and local leaders say their authority to slow or stop these developments is limited. Residents are left paying more while having less control.

We are calling on the Ohio General Assembly, Governor Mike DeWine, and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to take immediate action:

• Require data center developers to pay the full cost of the infrastructure they rely on
• Ensure that residential ratepayers are not subsidizing private projects 
• Pause approvals for new large-scale developments until clear protections for communities and utility customers are in place

Ohioans deserve transparency about who is paying for growth—and a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their land, water, and monthly bills.

If this industry is going to expand, it must do so responsibly and without shifting the burden onto families and local communities.

Sign this petition to stand up for fair energy costs, local accountability, and a future where Ohio’s growth works for everyone—not just a few.