data center

Ohio lawmakers are early in negotiations on an omnibus bill overhauling energy policies. The ever-growing number of data centers statewide are part of the equation.

Ohio Consumers' Counsel attorney Bill Michael's line of questioning on Tuesday suggested companies like Amazon, Meta and Microsoft can afford to pay their fair share, when it comes to purchasing electricity.

AEP Ohio wants to charge data centers differently than other commercial electric users, because the companies require large amounts of electricity, often requiring grid upgrades.

AEP, the PUCO staff and the Ohio Consumers Counsel want data center companies to pay 85% of the electricity usage. The companies wanted to pay 75% of the cost.

The $420 million center will be built on Beech Road and employ 30 people.

Central Ohio has become a big hub for data center facilities, but they have the potential to put serious strain on the electric grid and other natural resources.

Google said the money will go toward the data centers in Columbus, New Albany and Lancaster.

Amazon wants a discount on the massive amount of electricity their new data centers will use in central Ohio over the next decade, according to a Business Insider article.

A Monday news release said numerous locations are under consideration and the final sites will be announced later.

Construction on Facebook's billion-dollar campus in New Albany is being put on hold after racist graffiti was discovered at the site. All construction…