Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio, said a bipartisan PJM proposal ensures new energy resources meet the state’s growing demand and that data centers bear the costs of their expansion.
“Both across the nation and here in Ohio, energy demand is going up as economic development projects are increasing,” said DeWine. “As Governor, I support a proactive approach to increase energy supply and to protect consumers from rising costs. The principles proposed today will encourage new energy supply to be built in Ohio and the region and ensure data centers pay their own way as they expand.”
DeWine posted the statement on X, endorsing a joint bipartisan effort with other governors and the White House Energy Dominance Council to submit principles to PJM for managing energy supply challenges arising from data center expansion. The principles focus on accelerating new power generation and ensuring cost allocation. The announcement followed a signing event on January 15.
Ohio currently hosts 217 data centers, with 133 concentrated in central Ohio. This concentration is driving a forecasted increase of 5,250 megawatts in energy demand, primarily from these facilities. By 2030, the state expects an additional 77 data centers, which will elevate the industry’s share of energy consumption from 5.3 percent to 10.9 percent. While this expansion supports economic development, it necessitates infrastructure upgrades.
Data centers in the United States consumed 183 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2024, accounting for over four percent of national usage. Projections indicate this will more than double to 426 terawatt-hours by 2030 due to growth in artificial intelligence and cloud computing. This demand equals the annual electricity needs of entire countries like Pakistan.
DeWine was born on January 5, 1947, in Springfield, Ohio, and raised in Yellow Springs. He earned degrees from Miami University and Ohio Northern University College of Law. His public service career includes roles as Greene County Prosecutor, Ohio State Senator, U.S. Representative, Lieutenant Governor, U.S. Senator, and Ohio Attorney General before becoming governor in 2019.
