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The Columbus Dispatch

Data center deals being made in dark all over Ohio. It's a dangerous déjà vu | Opinion

Data center deals being made in dark all over Ohio. It's a dangerous déjà vu | Opinion

Ohio's data center boom coming secrets that must be drug from the darkness.

The Columbus Dispatch

Most Ohioans oppose tax breaks for data centers, poll finds

Most Ohioans oppose tax breaks for data centers, poll finds

More than 70% of likely Ohio voters oppose tax breaks for new data centers, according to a Suffolk University/USA TODAY Ohio Network poll.

FirstEnergy Recommits to $19 Million Lakewood Infrastructure Plan Amid Resident Outrage and PUCO Orders

FirstEnergy Recommits to $19 Million Lakewood Infrastructure Plan Amid Resident Outrage and PUCO Orders

FirstEnergy has reaffirmed its commitment to a $19 million infrastructure upgrade plan in Lakewood, Ohio, following significant resident dissatisfaction and orders from the Public Utility Commission of Ohio (PUCO). This recommitment comes after multiple power outages, including a series of failures in June that affected over 10,000 customers during a heatwave. FirstEnergy Vice President of Distribution Engineering, Sally Thomas, apologized for not meeting expectations and outlined the plan, which largely mirrors one presented in 2025. The plan includes the installation of smart meters, accounting for $7 million of the total investment. One of two transformers ordered by the PUCO has already been installed at the Lakewood substation, with the second scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. The company is also expected to provide a more comprehensive plan by year-end, developed with an independent firm, to address sub-transmission, substations, and distribution systems for improved reliability.

Congresswoman Shontel Brown Introduces Legislation to Address Nationwide Veterinarian Shortage

Congresswoman Shontel Brown Introduces Legislation to Address Nationwide Veterinarian Shortage

Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11), Vice Ranking Member on the House Committee on Agriculture, has introduced the VET CARE Act. This legislation aims to establish a competitive federal grant program through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support work-based learning initiatives. These programs are designed to expose high school-aged students to veterinary medicine. The VET CARE Act authorizes the USDA to provide grants to various entities, including schools, 4-H or FFA organizations, veterinary clinics and hospitals, and animal health offices. The goal is to create, develop, or expand programs that offer practical experience in veterinary medicine. This initiative comes in response to a significant nationwide veterinarian shortage, with the USDA identifying shortages in 46 states in 2025. A report from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Farm Journal Foundation indicated that Ohio alone faces a projected shortage of 60...

The Columbus Dispatch

Freedom of speech? HOAs in Ohio can restrict that. See why, how

Freedom of speech? HOAs in Ohio can restrict that. See why, how

Homeowners associations (HOA) can limit political yard sign use, something two Ohio lawmakers have been working to change for years.

Senator Jon Husted Faces Campaign Scrutiny Over Data Center Bill Amidst Tight Reelection Bid

Senator Jon Husted Faces Campaign Scrutiny Over Data Center Bill Amidst Tight Reelection Bid

Senator Jon Husted (R-OH) is facing political pressure regarding a bill aimed at reining in costs associated with data centers, known as the Ratepayer Protection Act. The Senate is expected to vote on this legislation, which passed the House last week with near-unanimous support. Husted, the Senate sponsor, views the bill as a bipartisan effort to address affordability concerns and guide state data center policies. However, Senate Democrats have blocked an attempt to fast-track the bill, arguing it does not go far enough to protect consumers, as it only requires states to consider, not adopt, its framework for data centers to cover their energy costs. This legislative push comes as Husted is in a tough reelection campaign against former Senator Sherrod Brown, who has made Husted’s past support for new data center projects a central theme of his campaign. A recent Bowling Green State University poll indicates that 75% of Ohio voters oppose the construction of data centers in their local communities.

Congressman Riley Moore Co-Sponsors Ratepayer Protection Act to Shield Consumers from Data Center Energy Costs

Congressman Riley Moore Co-Sponsors Ratepayer Protection Act to Shield Consumers from Data Center Energy Costs

West Virginia Congressman Riley Moore has co-sponsored the 'Ratepayer Protection Act,' a bill recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation aims to prevent the costs associated with powering large data centers from being passed on to residential utility customers. The Act establishes a federal standard requiring utilities to design rates that ensure data centers consuming 100 megawatts or more cover the full cost of any new generation, transmission, or distribution infrastructure needed to serve them. This includes provisions for financial assurances from data centers to cover these upgrade costs upfront, even if a contract is later terminated. The bill intentionally sets broad federal guidelines, leaving the specifics of implementation and enforcement to individual states, which would have one year to consider and two years to decide on adopting the standards. Congressman Moore emphasized that the bill's scope is designed to avoid federal preemption of state laws, though he is ope...

Senate Fails to Advance Data Center Bill Amidst Election-Year Disagreement on Energy Costs

Senate Fails to Advance Data Center Bill Amidst Election-Year Disagreement on Energy Costs

A bill aimed at addressing the impact of data centers on energy costs failed to advance in the U.S. Senate, falling short of the 60 votes needed. The measure, which had previously passed the House with a significant majority (417-3), garnered only 57-43 in the Senate. The bill, sponsored by Republican Senator Jon Husted of Ohio, proposed requiring utility regulators to consider adopting a federal standard that would charge large power customers, such as data centers, rates covering the cost of necessary grid upgrades. Democrats, including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, criticized the bill as insufficient, labeling it a 'fraud' and arguing it merely suggested rather than mandated action. They advocate for stronger legislation that would direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue mandatory rules for large electricity consumers to pay for grid improvements. The failure to pass the bill occurred as senators prepared to leave Washington for campaign activities ahead of the midterms, highl...

Congressman Rudy Yakym Introduces HAILEY Act to Expand Amber Alert Criteria for High-Risk Missing Children

Congressman Rudy Yakym Introduces HAILEY Act to Expand Amber Alert Criteria for High-Risk Missing Children

Indiana Republican Congressman Rudy Yakym introduced the High-risk Alert Improvement for Locating Endangered Youth Act, or HAILEY Act, in June. This legislation aims to broaden the circumstances under which law enforcement can issue an Amber Alert for missing children. Currently, federal guidelines generally require reasonable grounds to believe a child has been abducted and is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death. The HAILEY Act would allow an Amber Alert to be issued for someone under 18 who is reasonably believed to be a high-risk missing person, even if an abduction cannot be immediately established. The bill was introduced following the case of Hailey Buzbee, a 17-year-old from Indiana who was initially classified as a runaway and later found deceased in Ohio. Her family is advocating for this change, arguing that current alert systems do not adequately address how children can be targeted and moved in today's environment, particularly through online interactions. The legislation was r...

US Senate blocks bill to address data center costs

US Senate blocks bill to address data center costs

By Richard Cowan and Nichola Groom WASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The US Senate on Wednesday blocked legislation requiring state utility regulators to consider whether large electricity users, including data centers, should bear the incremental costs of power infrastructure built to serve them and

Senate Democrats Block Congressman Gabe Evans' Bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act

Senate Democrats Block Congressman Gabe Evans' Bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act

Senate Democrats have blocked Congressman Gabe Evans’ bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act for the second time in two weeks, despite the legislation passing the U.S. House of Representatives with an overwhelming 417–3 vote. The bill, designed to shield American families, farmers, seniors, and small businesses from bearing the costs of new energy infrastructure required by large-load data centers, failed to advance in the Senate after receiving 57 votes (53 Republicans and 4 Democrats), falling short of the 60 votes needed. Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper voted against the legislation, a move criticized by Congressman Evans, who stated that Senate Democrats prioritized 'political games' over a 'commonsense solution.' The Act would have required regulators in states without comparable protections to hold public hearings on a federal standard, ensuring large-load data centers pay the full incremental costs of new power generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure. It also pr...

The Knoxville News-Sentinel

East Tennessee U.S. House voter's guide: Get to know the candidates

East Tennessee U.S. House voter's guide: Get to know the candidates

Get to know the Democratic and Republican candidates running to represent Tennessee in the U.S. House.