New panel studying data centers includes local sen.

SANDUSKY — A prominent Sandusky-area lawmaker will serve on a new committee that's been formed to study data centers in Ohio. The new Ohio Joint Data Center Committee announced Wednesday includes state Sen. Bill Reineke, R-Tiffin, who is in line to become the next president of the Ohio Senate in 2027. Reineke has apparently secured enough pledges to replace state Sen. Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, who is the current president of the Ohio Senate. McColley is running for lieutenant governor as Vivek Ramaswamy's running mate. Reineke's only rival for the Senate president post, state Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, has dropped out, according to press reports. The Ohio Joint Data Center Committee is supposed to study the economic, environmental, energy and security impacts of data center development across Ohio. The committee is scheduled to host its first meeting on May 27. "The committee will help to serve as a response to the rapid growth of data centers in Ohio and the many unanswered questions regarding their development," according to a news release the Ohio General Assembly issued to announce the new committee. "Key concerns include energy demand, the use of agricultural land, noise pollution, water use and disposal and national security, among other important issues." Ohio has about 200 data centers with more on the way. A petition is currently being circulated for a proposed state question to ban the construction of new data centers. The new Aligned Data Centers facility at 2509 Hayes Ave. (Ohio 4) in Perkins Township — at the former home of auto parts plant companies Delphi, New Departure, New Departure-Hyatt and KBI — is an example of one of Ohio's new data centers, which power the current artificial intelligence boom. Another facility is proposed in Monroeville in Huron County. The co-chairmen of the new data center committee are state Rep. Adam Holmes, R-Nashport, the chairman of the House Energy Committee, and state Sen. Brian Chavez, R-Marietta, the chairman of the Senate Energy Committee. Other members of the panel are Reineke, state Sen. Shane Wilkin, R-Hillsboro; state Sen. Willis E. Blackshear Jr., D-Dayton; state Rep. Thad Claggett, R-Licking County; state Rep. Heidi Workman, R-Rootstown; and state Rep. Chris Glassburn, D-North Olmsted. Some of the impetus for the new committee came from a measure, House Bill 646, co-authored by state Rep. Kellie Deeter, R-Norwalk, and state Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery, which would have created a state commission to study data centers. The measure passed the Ohio House unanimously. Leaders in the Ohio Senate, however, decided to create the joint committee instead, arguing that it would allow a study to begin soon. Click and Deeter have both said they did not oppose forming the joint committee instead of a state commission.