What would Amy Acton’s data center moratorium actually do?
Amy Acton has proposed a conditional moratorium, not a ban. New data centers would be blocked unless they meet her conditions on utility costs, union labor, transparency, environmental standards, community benefits and site location. Her campaign has asked the Republican-led General Assembly, Ohio’s state legislature, to pass it, and has not explained how key conditions would be measured or enforced.
- July 9, 2025: The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) adopted AEP Ohio’s data center tariff, the utility’s approved pricing rules for data centers. It requires large new data centers to pay for at least 85% of the electricity capacity they reserve for up to 12 years, even if they use less. A data center that reserves 100 megawatts but uses 65 is still billed for at least 85, according to GovTech, AEP Ohio and the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel.
- July 27, 2026: Acton announced support for a conditional moratorium on new data centers, according to the Statehouse News Bureau.
- September 23, 2026: Acton’s campaign called on the Ohio Statehouse to pass legislation enacting the moratorium, according to her campaign release.
- October 26, 2026: The Statehouse News Bureau reported Acton has not said the moratorium would be done by executive order, and that legislation would require working with the Republican-led General Assembly.
Last checked: October 29, 2026.
Amy Acton says she would block new data centers unless they cover their utility costs, use union labor, operate transparently, meet environmental standards, benefit local communities and favor former industrial sites. But major questions remain about what her proposal would change, which parts a governor could implement directly and how the requirements would be enforced.
This page separates three things: what Acton has promised, what an Ohio governor can actually do, and what Ohio regulators already require of data centers today. Every claim on this page names its source and links to it.
Key Terms
Plain-English definitions of the policy and utility terms used on this page.
| Term | Plain-English Meaning | Source | Source URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conditional moratorium | A pause on new data centers that lifts for any project meeting a set list of conditions. It is not a permanent ban. | Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), July 27, 2026 | https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-07-27/democrat-running-for-ohio-governor-calls-for-conditional-moratorium-on-new-data-centers |
| General Assembly | Ohio’s state legislature: the Ohio House and Senate. It passes state laws, and is currently Republican-led. | Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), October 26, 2026 | https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-10-26/candidates-for-ohio-governor-focus-on-data-centers-in-last-week-of-campaign |
| PUCO | The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the state agency that regulates utility service and sets rates. Its five commissioners are appointed by the governor. | Public Utilities Commission of Ohio press release, August 5, 2026; Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), July 27, 2026 | https://puco.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/puco/news/process-protects-aep-customers-from-potential-data-center-costs https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-07-27/democrat-running-for-ohio-governor-calls-for-conditional-moratorium-on-new-data-centers |
| Tariff | A utility’s approved set of pricing rules and terms of service. AEP Ohio has a separate tariff just for data centers. | AEP Ohio, Data Center Tariff page; Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Data Centers resource page | https://www.aepohio.com/company/about/rates/data-center-tariff https://puco.ohio.gov/utilities/electricity/resources/data-centers |
| 85% minimum (data center tariff) | Large new data centers in AEP Ohio territory pay for at least 85% of the electricity capacity they reserve, for up to 12 years, even if they use less. Example: reserve 100 megawatts, use 65, and the bill is still based on at least 85. | Government Technology (GovTech); Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, Quick Facts: Data Centers in Ohio | https://www.govtech.com/artificial-intelligence/ohio-neighboring-states-safeguard-electric-customers https://occ.ohio.gov/factsheet/data-centers |
| AEP Ohio | The electric utility that delivers power to homes and businesses in much of Ohio, including Central Ohio. It is part of American Electric Power (AEP), a national utility company, and its legal name is Ohio Power Company. Its rates and rules are set by PUCO. | AEP Ohio news release, October 23, 2024; Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Data Centers resource page | https://www.aepohio.com/company/news/view?releaseID=9828 https://puco.ohio.gov/utilities/electricity/resources/data-centers |
| AEP Ohio service territory | The area where AEP Ohio delivers electricity, which includes Central Ohio, where most of the state’s data centers are. The data center tariff applies only here. | Government Technology (GovTech); Ohio Capital Journal, August 12, 2026 | https://www.govtech.com/artificial-intelligence/ohio-neighboring-states-safeguard-electric-customers https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/08/12/candidates-highlight-data-center-plans-next-ohio-governor-will-select-regulators/ |
| Megawatt (MW) and hyperscale | A megawatt measures electricity demand. A large or “hyperscale” data center can use as much electricity as 100,000 homes. AEP Ohio’s tariff covers data centers of 25 MW or more. | Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, Quick Facts: Data Centers in Ohio; AEP Ohio, Data Center Tariff page | https://occ.ohio.gov/factsheet/data-centers https://www.aepohio.com/company/about/rates/data-center-tariff |
| Default service | The electricity a utility buys for customers who do not choose their own supplier. In Ohio this is called the Standard Service Offer. | Public Utilities Commission of Ohio press release, August 5, 2026 | https://puco.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/puco/news/process-protects-aep-customers-from-potential-data-center-costs |
| Distribution costs | The cost of the local system that carries electricity from substations to homes and businesses. These costs appear on residential bills. | Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, Quick Facts: Data Centers in Ohio | https://occ.ohio.gov/factsheet/data-centers |
| Nondisclosure agreement (NDA) | A secrecy agreement or confidentiality contract. Here, it means a signed agreement between data center developers and local officials that restricts project details from being disclosed to the public. | NBC4 WCMH-TV, August 2026; Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026 | https://www.nbc4i.com/news/politics/how-ohio-governor-candidates-would-tackle-data-centers/amp/ https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ |
| Community benefit agreement | A deal between a developer and a local community in which the developer commits to specific local benefits in exchange for support. | Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), July 27, 2026 | https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-07-27/democrat-running-for-ohio-governor-calls-for-conditional-moratorium-on-new-data-centers |
| Brownfield | A former industrial or previously developed site, as opposed to farmland or undeveloped land. | Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026 | https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ |
| Property tax abatement | A reduction or exemption from property taxes offered to attract a project. | Dayton Daily News, August 2026 | https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/data-centers-must-meet-strict-rules-under-ramaswamy-proposal/article_211ffd30-465c-5fde-baa8-6be731e8d6bd.html |
In Amy Acton’s Own Words
Amy Acton announced her conditional data center moratorium in a campaign statement on July 27, 2026, and called on the General Assembly to pass it in a second statement on September 23, 2026. Her exact words are below, quoted from those campaign releases.
| Date | What Acton Said | Why It Matters | Source | Source URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 27, 2026 | “As governor, I will take immediate action and support a conditional moratorium on data centers to ensure they cover one hundred percent of their utility costs, exclusively build with union labor, operate with full transparency, adhere to Ohio’s environmental standards, support the needs of local communities, and bring jobs to former industrial areas that have been left behind.” | This is the full text of the proposal. Each condition is stated as a goal; none says how it would be measured, enforced or put into law. | Acton for Governor campaign release, July 27, 2026; Acton for Governor, Data Centers issue page | https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-announces-support-for-conditional-moratorium-on-data-centers/ https://actonforgovernor.com/issue/data-centers/ |
| July 27, 2026 | “Costs are too high, and Ohio families and businesses need protection from data centers driving up costs. Ohio is open for business, but we are not up for sale. If you do not meet these conditions, we do not want you in Ohio.” | Frames the plan as a cost-protection measure and sets exclusion as the default: data centers that fall short are not wanted in Ohio. | Acton for Governor campaign release, July 27, 2026; Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), July 27, 2026 | https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-announces-support-for-conditional-moratorium-on-data-centers/ https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-07-27/democrat-running-for-ohio-governor-calls-for-conditional-moratorium-on-new-data-centers |
| September 23, 2026 | “Ohioans have been clear; we need to lower costs, which is why I am calling on our Statehouse to pass a conditional moratorium on data centers when they return to session next week.” | Shows the moratorium depends on lawmakers. Two months after promising “immediate action,” Acton asked the General Assembly to enact it. | Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026 | https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ |
Is Amy Acton’s Plan a Data Center Moratorium or a Ban?
It is a conditional moratorium, not a ban. That means new data centers could still be built in Ohio, but only if they meet all of Acton’s conditions. A project that misses even one would be kept out.
What Are Amy Acton’s Data Center Conditions?
Acton listed six conditions when she announced the plan on July 27, 2026: data centers must pay all of their own utility costs, use only union workers to build, operate with full transparency, meet environmental standards, support local communities, and favor old industrial sites over farmland. Her campaign’s September 23 list has five. It adds a ban on secrecy agreements with local officials and drops the community-benefit condition.
The table below lists each of Acton’s conditions and what her campaign has not yet explained about how it would work.
| Condition | What Acton’s Campaign Has Said | What Acton Has Not Explained | Why It Matters | Source | Source URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utility costs | Data centers must cover 100% of their utility costs. All gas, water and electricity costs must be covered by data centers and their investors, and projects must prove they will not raise electricity prices. | How “one hundred percent of their utility costs” would be calculated (generation, transmission, distribution or water), who would certify it, and how it would work alongside PUCO’s existing data center tariff. | This is the condition most tied to household bills. Without a defined formula, it is unclear whether it goes beyond what PUCO already requires of large data centers in AEP Ohio territory. | Dayton Daily News, July 2026; Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026 | https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/ohio/local-governments-weigh-temporary-moratorium-on-data-centers/article_616aa0a2-ecc8-5c4f-8712-dc14982a4414.html https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ |
| Union labor | Data centers must be built exclusively with union labor. | How a union-only construction requirement would be enforced on privately financed projects, whether it would apply to projects already approved or under construction, and how it would fit with Ohio’s existing law limiting union-agreement requirements on public construction (Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4116). | It is the only condition about who builds a project rather than what it costs or where it goes. How it applies to private construction decides how many projects could qualify. | Dayton Daily News, July 2026; Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026; Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4116 | https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/ohio/local-governments-weigh-temporary-moratorium-on-data-centers/article_616aa0a2-ecc8-5c4f-8712-dc14982a4414.html https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-4116 |
| Transparency | No nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), the secrecy agreements some local officials sign with data center developers; communities must know who is coming and at what cost. | Whether the ban would cover existing NDAs signed by local officials and what the penalty would be. A separate House bill (HB 695) to ban NDAs for local officials was pending as of April 2026, according to the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel. | Lawmakers already have a pending bill on local-official NDAs. Whether Acton’s condition adds anything depends on details she has not published. | Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026; Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, Data Centers in Ohio | https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ https://occ.ohio.gov/data-centers |
| Environmental standards | July: adhere to Ohio’s environmental standards. September: maintain “zero environmental impact.” | What “zero environmental impact” would require beyond existing state and federal permits, and which agency would measure it. | “Zero environmental impact” is a higher bar than “adhere to Ohio’s environmental standards.” Which version applies changes how many projects could meet it. | Dayton Daily News, July 2026; Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026 | https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/ohio/local-governments-weigh-temporary-moratorium-on-data-centers/article_616aa0a2-ecc8-5c4f-8712-dc14982a4414.html https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ |
| Community benefit | July: support the needs of local communities; reporting described this as signing community benefit agreements. | What counts as community approval, who negotiates on the community’s behalf, and whether a single local government can block or approve a project. This condition is not listed in the September 23 release. | The condition shifts approval power toward local communities, but without a defined process it is unclear who decides. Its absence from the September list leaves open whether it is still part of the plan. | Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), July 27, 2026; Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026 | https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-07-27/democrat-running-for-ohio-governor-calls-for-conditional-moratorium-on-new-data-centers https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ |
| Site location | Bring jobs to former industrial areas; prioritize brownfields and previously developed industrial sites over farmland. | Whether this is a firm requirement or a preference, given that the release uses the word “prioritizing.” | As a requirement, it limits where data centers can locate. As a preference, it may change little. The wording does not settle which. | Dayton Daily News, July 2026; Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026 | https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/ohio/local-governments-weigh-temporary-moratorium-on-data-centers/article_616aa0a2-ecc8-5c4f-8712-dc14982a4414.html https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ |
| Timing | July: “immediate action.” September: called on lawmakers to pass the moratorium when they returned to session. | When the policy would take effect, how long it would last and what happens to projects already in the pipeline. | A moratorium’s effect depends on when it starts and whether it covers projects already approved. Neither question is answered. | Dayton Daily News, July 2026; Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026 | https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/ohio/local-governments-weigh-temporary-moratorium-on-data-centers/article_616aa0a2-ecc8-5c4f-8712-dc14982a4414.html https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ |
Can an Ohio Governor Impose a Data Center Moratorium?
Not under Acton’s plan as described so far. She has not said she would impose the moratorium on her own by executive order. Her campaign has instead asked the General Assembly to pass it. The Statehouse News Bureau reported on October 26, 2026 that legislation would require working with the Republican-led General Assembly. The Tiffin Ohio Navigator reported in July that her original release did not say whether the moratorium would come through legislation, executive action or state boards the governor appoints.
On the broader question, experts interviewed by Signal Statewide in September called Acton’s plan more realistic than Ramaswamy’s, and one described parts of it as extensions of a governor’s authority over state agencies or existing project agreements. Both candidates say their conditions would ultimately need to be written into law by the General Assembly. As of October 29, 2026, no published legal analysis reviewed for this fact-check settles whether an Ohio governor could impose a statewide data center moratorium by executive order alone.
A governor does have indirect influence. Each row in the table below is a path to action: a way a governor could try to make a moratorium happen, such as passing a law, issuing an order or appointing the regulators who set utility rules, along with what the record shows about whether that path would work.
| Path to Action | What the Record Shows | Why It Matters | Source | Source URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legislation | Acton’s campaign called on the Statehouse to pass the conditional moratorium when lawmakers returned to session in late September 2026. | The moratorium depends on the General Assembly, not the governor alone. | Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026 | https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ |
| Executive order | Acton has not said the moratorium would be done by executive order; legislation would require working with the Republican-led General Assembly. | Without an executive order, nothing in the plan takes effect on Inauguration Day. | Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), October 26, 2026 | https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-10-26/candidates-for-ohio-governor-focus-on-data-centers-in-last-week-of-campaign |
| Stated mechanism | Acton’s July release did not say how she would put a moratorium in place: through legislation, executive action or the state boards a governor appoints. | The original announcement promised “immediate action” without naming the tool to deliver it. | Tiffin Ohio Navigator, July 2026 | https://tiffinohio.net/posts/acton-backs-data-center-moratorium-conditions-ramaswamy-opposes/ |
| PUCO appointments | The next governor will appoint the five members of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, which sets utility rates. | PUCO sets rates and has already written data center rules, so these appointments are a governor’s most direct way to influence who pays for data center power. | Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), July 27, 2026; Ohio Capital Journal, August 12, 2026 | https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-07-27/democrat-running-for-ohio-governor-calls-for-conditional-moratorium-on-new-data-centers https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/08/12/candidates-highlight-data-center-plans-next-ohio-governor-will-select-regulators/ |
| Power Siting Board | The next governor appoints one member of the Ohio Power Siting Board, which approves energy infrastructure projects. PUCO says the board reviews the location of power plants that often serve data centers, but does not review or select where data centers are built. | The board does not pick data center sites, so a governor’s seat on it cannot by itself block or approve a data center. | Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), July 27, 2026; Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Data Centers resource page | https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-07-27/democrat-running-for-ohio-governor-calls-for-conditional-moratorium-on-new-data-centers https://puco.ohio.gov/utilities/electricity/resources/data-centers |
| JobsOhio | The next governor appoints members of the JobsOhio board, which provides incentives to companies siting operations in Ohio. | JobsOhio shapes the incentives offered to attract projects, not whether a project is legally allowed to build. | Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), July 27, 2026 | https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-07-27/democrat-running-for-ohio-governor-calls-for-conditional-moratorium-on-new-data-centers |
| Track record of legislation | A late push to send data center regulations to Gov. Mike DeWine died in June 2026 amid a debate over tax breaks; Statehouse lawmakers had yet to pass any data center legislation as of August 2026. | Data center legislation has stalled before, and any moratorium bill would go through the same General Assembly. | Statehouse News Bureau (Sarah Donaldson), June 11, 2026; Ohio Capital Journal, August 12, 2026 | https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-06-11/tax-break-debate-stalls-new-ohio-data-center-laws-what-now https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/08/12/candidates-highlight-data-center-plans-next-ohio-governor-will-select-regulators/ |
| Expert assessment | Experts interviewed by Signal Statewide called Acton’s plan much more realistic than Ramaswamy’s, though less ambitious about lowering electricity costs. Mike Jacobs of the Union of Concerned Scientists called its provisions realistic extensions of a governor’s authority over state agencies or existing project agreements. | Some of the plan may be achievable through state agencies a governor oversees, even before a statewide law passes. The experts did not say which conditions fall in that category. | Signal Statewide (Andrew Tobias), September 15, 2026 | https://signalohio.org/vivek-ramaswamy-data-center-policy-promises-ohio-free-electricity/ |
| Existing state law on union agreements | Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4116, in effect since 1999, bars public authorities from requiring contractors to enter agreements with labor organizations on public improvement contracts. | Chapter 4116 applies to public-improvement procurement. It does not, by itself, establish whether Ohio could impose a union-labor condition on a privately financed data center; that would depend on the enabling legislation and project structure. Acton has not explained how her union-only condition would be written or applied. | Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4116 | https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-4116 |
What Has Ohio Already Done on Data Center Costs?
Ohio regulators already have rules meant to keep new data centers from shifting infrastructure costs onto other customers. Those protections apply in AEP Ohio’s service territory, where most of Ohio’s data centers are concentrated in Central Ohio. Any new statewide moratorium would sit on top of these rules, not replace a vacuum.
| Date | Action | Why It Matters | Source | Source URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2025 | PUCO adopted AEP Ohio’s data center tariff settlement. | Ohio’s main data center cost protection predates the governor’s race and came from regulators, not new legislation. | AEP Ohio, Data Center Tariff page | https://www.aepohio.com/company/about/rates/data-center-tariff |
| July 9, 2025 | Under the tariff, new large data centers must pay for at least 85% of their contracted electricity capacity for up to 12 years, even if they use less. | Data centers pay for capacity they reserve even if they use less, which PUCO says helps prevent overbuilding and keeps costs from shifting to other customers. | Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, Quick Facts: Data Centers in Ohio | https://occ.ohio.gov/factsheet/data-centers |
| July 9, 2025 | The Ohio Consumers’ Counsel was a party to the settlement, along with AEP Ohio, PUCO staff and others. | The state office that represents residential customers signed on, so household ratepayers were represented when these rules were set. | Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, Quick Facts: Data Centers in Ohio | https://occ.ohio.gov/factsheet/data-centers |
| Since July 2025 | The tariff’s requirements apply only in AEP Ohio’s service territory. | Customers of other Ohio utilities do not get these specific protections. That is a real gap a statewide policy could address. | Government Technology (GovTech) | https://www.govtech.com/artificial-intelligence/ohio-neighboring-states-safeguard-electric-customers |
| Spring 2026 | PUCO approved a new rate structure for Ohio Power Company (AEP Ohio) requiring new data centers to pay a minimum monthly customer charge. | Adds a second cost-recovery layer on top of the 2025 tariff. | Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Data Centers resource page | https://puco.ohio.gov/utilities/electricity/resources/data-centers |
| May 27, 2026 | Gov. Mike DeWine directed the Ohio Tax Credit Authority to pause new data center tax exemption requests while the General Assembly studies data center growth. | The state has already paused a major incentive for data centers without a moratorium. | Tribune Chronicle, August 2026 | https://www.tribtoday.com/news/local-news/2026/08/ramaswamy-acton-take-stances-on-data-centers/ |
| June 2026 | An effort to send data center regulations to the governor before summer recess failed amid a tax-break debate. | The General Assembly has struggled to pass data center rules, and it is the same body Acton now needs for her moratorium. | Statehouse News Bureau (Sarah Donaldson), June 11, 2026 | https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-06-11/tax-break-debate-stalls-new-ohio-data-center-laws-what-now |
| August 5, 2026 | PUCO ordered AEP Ohio to require 180-day notice before a data center returns to default service (the power AEP Ohio buys for customers who do not choose their own supplier), with the full cost of serving it assigned to the data center. | Regulators keep adding protections case by case, which affects how much a new moratorium would change. | Public Utilities Commission of Ohio press release, August 5, 2026 | https://puco.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/puco/news/process-protects-aep-customers-from-potential-data-center-costs |
Would Amy Acton’s Plan Lower Electricity Bills?
There is no published estimate showing it would. The real risk is established: state consumer advocates say data center growth can push electricity and distribution costs up. What is not established is that Acton’s plan would produce any specific saving for Ohio households beyond the protections regulators already require.
| Proven by the Record? | Finding | Why It Matters | Source | Source URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Rapid data center growth is driving higher electricity demand nationwide, which can put upward pressure on residential prices. | Confirms the concern behind Acton’s plan is real. | Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, Quick Facts: Data Centers in Ohio | https://occ.ohio.gov/factsheet/data-centers |
| Yes | The Ohio Consumers’ Counsel is monitoring distribution costs (the local system that carries power from substations to homes and businesses), which may rise as data center demand grows, and says data center demand is putting stress on the state’s power grid and water supply. | Distribution costs appear on every residential bill, so this is where data center growth could reach households. | Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, Data Centers in Ohio | https://occ.ohio.gov/data-centers |
| Yes | Average Ohio residential summer utility bills were projected at about $800, up 17% from the prior summer, according to a Third Way report cited by the Ohio Capital Journal. | Bills are rising, which is why affordability drives the data center debate. The figure does not isolate how much of the increase is due to data centers. | Ohio Capital Journal, August 12, 2026 | https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/08/12/candidates-highlight-data-center-plans-next-ohio-governor-will-select-regulators/ |
| Yes | PUCO rules already require large new data centers in AEP Ohio territory to pay most of their contracted capacity costs and to bear the full cost of returning to default service. | Part of what Acton’s utility-cost condition seeks already exists in AEP Ohio territory. Acton’s plan’s added effect would come from areas and costs these rules do not cover. | Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, Quick Facts: Data Centers in Ohio; Public Utilities Commission of Ohio press release, August 5, 2026 | https://occ.ohio.gov/factsheet/data-centers https://puco.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/puco/news/process-protects-aep-customers-from-potential-data-center-costs |
| No | Acton’s campaign statements reviewed for this fact-check do not estimate how much, if anything, a typical Ohio household would save under her plan. Last checked: October 29, 2026. | Without an estimate, a claim that the plan would cut bills by a specific amount cannot be verified. | Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026; Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), July 27, 2026 | https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-07-27/democrat-running-for-ohio-governor-calls-for-conditional-moratorium-on-new-data-centers |
| No | No state agency cited in this fact-check has estimated the incremental bill effect of a conditional moratorium on top of existing PUCO rules. Last checked: October 29, 2026. | The plan’s added effect on bills is unknown. That is not the same as proof it would be zero. | Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, Data Centers in Ohio; Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Data Centers resource page | https://occ.ohio.gov/data-centers https://puco.ohio.gov/utilities/electricity/resources/data-centers |
How Do Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy Differ on Data Centers?
Both major-party candidates now support restricting new data centers until conditions are met. Both plans depend on the General Assembly. The differences are in the conditions and in how each candidate says the policy would start.
| Issue | Amy Acton (D) | Vivek Ramaswamy (R) | Why It Matters | Source | Source URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approach | Conditional moratorium: new data centers blocked unless they meet her conditions. | Three conditions; projects that miss any would not be built. | Both plans block projects that fail their tests. The difference is which tests apply. | Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), July 27, 2026; Dayton Daily News, August 2026 | https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-07-27/democrat-running-for-ohio-governor-calls-for-conditional-moratorium-on-new-data-centers https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/data-centers-must-meet-strict-rules-under-ramaswamy-proposal/article_211ffd30-465c-5fde-baa8-6be731e8d6bd.html |
| How it would start | Has called on the General Assembly to pass it; has not said she would use an executive order. | Says he would issue a day-one executive order pausing approvals of new projects until the General Assembly enacts his requirements. | Ramaswamy names a first-day action and Acton does not. Both still need the General Assembly to make their conditions law. | Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026; Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), October 26, 2026; Ohio Capital Journal, August 10, 2026 | https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-10-26/candidates-for-ohio-governor-focus-on-data-centers-in-last-week-of-campaign https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/08/10/all-candidates-for-ohio-governor-have-now-called-for-restrictions-on-data-center-boom/ |
| Electricity costs | Data centers must cover 100% of their utility costs and prove they will not raise prices. | Nearby residents would receive free electricity, financed by data centers. | The plans measure success differently: Acton’s by whether bills rise, Ramaswamy’s by whether nearby households pay at all. Experts told Signal Statewide the free-electricity idea faces legal, regulatory and physical hurdles, and called Acton’s plan more realistic but less ambitious on bills. | Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026; Dayton Daily News, August 2026; Signal Statewide (Andrew Tobias), September 15, 2026 | https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/data-centers-must-meet-strict-rules-under-ramaswamy-proposal/article_211ffd30-465c-5fde-baa8-6be731e8d6bd.html https://signalohio.org/vivek-ramaswamy-data-center-policy-promises-ohio-free-electricity/ |
| Taxes | Not among her listed conditions. | End future property tax abatements; data centers pay full property taxes. | Tax abatements are a separate cost question from utility bills, and only Ramaswamy’s plan addresses them directly. | Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026; Dayton Daily News, August 2026 | https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/data-centers-must-meet-strict-rules-under-ramaswamy-proposal/article_211ffd30-465c-5fde-baa8-6be731e8d6bd.html |
| Labor | Union-only construction. | Not among his three listed conditions. | Acton’s union requirement is the clearest policy difference between the two plans. | Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026; Dayton Daily News, August 2026 | https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/data-centers-must-meet-strict-rules-under-ramaswamy-proposal/article_211ffd30-465c-5fde-baa8-6be731e8d6bd.html |
| Transparency | Ban nondisclosure agreements. | Has said data centers need to be transparent. | Both say data centers should be transparent; Acton’s NDA ban is the more specific commitment. | Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026; Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), October 26, 2026 | https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-10-26/candidates-for-ohio-governor-focus-on-data-centers-in-last-week-of-campaign |
| Environment and siting | Meet environmental standards; prioritize brownfields over farmland. | Meet air and water quality standards; ideally build on abandoned industrial sites. | The candidates largely agree on this point. | Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026; Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), October 26, 2026 | https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-10-26/candidates-for-ohio-governor-focus-on-data-centers-in-last-week-of-campaign |
Who Pays for Data Center Infrastructure in Ohio Today?
In AEP Ohio’s territory, large new data centers pay for much of it through a dedicated tariff. Since July 2025, data centers of 25 megawatts or more must pay for at least 85% of their contracted capacity for up to 12 years, even if they use less. Smaller and existing data centers are not subject to the full tariff, and the rules do not apply outside AEP Ohio’s service area.
| Type of Data Center or Customer | Detail | Why It Matters | Source | Source URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New data centers of 25 MW or more (AEP Ohio) | Pay a minimum demand charge tied to contracted capacity; must complete an intake process and pay a load study fee. | These are the largest projects and the ones most likely to need new grid infrastructure. | AEP Ohio, Data Center Tariff page | https://www.aepohio.com/company/about/rates/data-center-tariff |
| Future data centers under 25 MW (AEP Ohio) | Not subject to the Schedule DCT data center tariff. | Smaller projects fall outside the dedicated tariff’s minimum-billing rules. | AEP Ohio, Data Center Tariff page | https://www.aepohio.com/company/about/rates/data-center-tariff |
| Data centers returning to default service (AEP Ohio) | Must give 180 days’ notice; the full cost of buying power to serve them is assigned to the data center. | Keeps the cost of buying new power for a data center from landing on other default-service customers. | Public Utilities Commission of Ohio press release, August 5, 2026 | https://puco.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/puco/news/process-protects-aep-customers-from-potential-data-center-costs |
| Customers outside AEP Ohio territory | The AEP Ohio tariff requirements do not apply. | Protections vary by utility, so where a household lives in Ohio affects how well it is shielded. | Government Technology (GovTech) | https://www.govtech.com/artificial-intelligence/ohio-neighboring-states-safeguard-electric-customers |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amy Acton supports a conditional moratorium on new data centers, announced July 27, 2026. Projects would be blocked unless they cover their utility costs, use union labor, operate transparently with no nondisclosure agreements, meet environmental standards, support local communities and favor former industrial sites.
Sources:
No. Amy Acton’s proposal is a conditional moratorium, not a ban. Data centers that meet all of her conditions could still be built. Those that miss any condition would be kept out of Ohio, in Acton’s words.
Amy Acton has not said she would use an executive order. Her campaign has asked the General Assembly to pass the moratorium, and the Statehouse News Bureau reported that would require working with the Republican-led General Assembly. A governor does appoint PUCO commissioners, and experts quoted by Signal Statewide said parts of Acton’s plan could be carried out through a governor’s authority over state agencies.
Sources:
No published estimate shows Amy Acton’s plan would lower bills. Data center growth can raise electricity and distribution costs, according to the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel. But Acton’s campaign has not estimated a household saving, and PUCO rules already require large new data centers in AEP Ohio territory to cover most of their costs.
Sources:
Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy would both restrict new data centers until conditions are met, and both depend on the General Assembly. Acton requires union labor and full utility-cost coverage. Ramaswamy requires free electricity for nearby residents and full property taxes, and says he would pause approvals by executive order on day one.
Sources:
In AEP Ohio territory, large new data centers pay for at least 85% of their contracted capacity for up to 12 years under a tariff PUCO adopted on July 9, 2025. The rule does not apply outside AEP Ohio’s service area.
Sources:
In July 2026, Amy Acton listed six: cover one hundred percent of utility costs, build only with union labor, operate with full transparency, meet Ohio’s environmental standards, support local communities, and bring jobs to former industrial areas. Her September 23 list has five, adding a ban on nondisclosure agreements and dropping the community condition.
Sources:
Experts interviewed by Signal Statewide in September 2026 called Acton’s plan more realistic than Ramaswamy’s, though less ambitious on lowering bills, and said parts could run through a governor’s authority over state agencies. Acton’s campaign has not explained how several conditions, including union-only construction, would be measured or enforced.
Sources:
Amy Acton’s published statements do not say. They state that data centers must be built with union labor but do not describe an enforcement mechanism or which agency would apply it.
Sources:
Amy Acton’s statements do not give a date. In July she promised “immediate action”; in September she asked lawmakers to pass the moratorium when they returned to session. As of October 29, 2026, no such legislation had been reported as passed.
Sources:
Sources & Evidence
| # | Claim Supported | Source | Source URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | Acton announced a conditional moratorium on July 27, 2026; her “open for business” quote; Pepper’s description of conditions; governor appoints PUCO, Power Siting Board and JobsOhio members. | Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), July 27, 2026 | https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-07-27/democrat-running-for-ohio-governor-calls-for-conditional-moratorium-on-new-data-centers |
| S2 | Original July 27, 2026 campaign release: full six-condition quote and “open for business, but we are not up for sale.” | Acton for Governor campaign release, July 27, 2026 | https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-announces-support-for-conditional-moratorium-on-data-centers/ |
| S3 | Independent report of Acton’s six-condition statement; Ramaswamy campaign response. | Dayton Daily News, July 2026 | https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/ohio/local-governments-weigh-temporary-moratorium-on-data-centers/article_616aa0a2-ecc8-5c4f-8712-dc14982a4414.html |
| S4 | Acton called on the Statehouse to pass the moratorium; detailed list of conditions including “zero environmental impact” and no NDAs. | Acton for Governor campaign release, September 23, 2026 | https://actonforgovernor.com/dr-amy-acton-calls-for-statehouse-to-pass-immediate-conditional-data-center-moratorium-legislation-as-they-reconvene/ |
| S5 | Acton has not said the moratorium would be done by executive order; legislation requires the Republican-led General Assembly; closing-week data center ads. | Statehouse News Bureau (Jo Ingles), October 26, 2026 | https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-10-26/candidates-for-ohio-governor-focus-on-data-centers-in-last-week-of-campaign |
| S6 | July release did not say whether the moratorium would come through legislation, executive action or appointed boards. | Tiffin Ohio Navigator, July 2026 | https://tiffinohio.net/posts/acton-backs-data-center-moratorium-conditions-ramaswamy-opposes/ |
| S7 | Acton plan includes union labor and an end to local NDAs; Ramaswamy executive-order pledge. | NBC4 WCMH-TV, August 2026 | https://www.nbc4i.com/news/politics/how-ohio-governor-candidates-would-tackle-data-centers/amp/ |
| S8 | PUCO data center resource page: separate data center customer class (summer 2025); spring 2026 minimum monthly charge; Power Siting Board does not site data centers. | Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Data Centers resource page | https://puco.ohio.gov/utilities/electricity/resources/data-centers |
| S9 | PUCO August 5, 2026 order on 180-day notice and full cost assignment to data centers. | Public Utilities Commission of Ohio press release, August 5, 2026 | https://puco.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/puco/news/process-protects-aep-customers-from-potential-data-center-costs |
| S10 | PUCO adopted the AEP Ohio data center tariff on July 9, 2025; 25 MW threshold and minimum demand terms. | AEP Ohio, Data Center Tariff page | https://www.aepohio.com/company/about/rates/data-center-tariff |
| S11 | Data center demand is stressing the grid and water supply; distribution costs may rise; pending data center bills including HB 695. | Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, Data Centers in Ohio | https://occ.ohio.gov/data-centers |
| S12 | 85% minimum for up to 12 years; OCC party to the settlement; upward pressure on residential prices. | Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, Quick Facts: Data Centers in Ohio | https://occ.ohio.gov/factsheet/data-centers |
| S13 | AEP Ohio tariff requirements apply only in AEP Ohio’s service territory; worked example of the 85% minimum (100 MW reserved, 65 MW used, billed for at least 85 MW). | Government Technology (GovTech) | https://www.govtech.com/artificial-intelligence/ohio-neighboring-states-safeguard-electric-customers |
| S14 | Next governor appoints five PUCO members; Third Way bill projection; General Assembly had not passed data center legislation. | Ohio Capital Journal, August 12, 2026 | https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/08/12/candidates-highlight-data-center-plans-next-ohio-governor-will-select-regulators/ |
| S15 | Ramaswamy’s day-one executive order pledge; all candidates now support restrictions. | Ohio Capital Journal, August 10, 2026 | https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/08/10/all-candidates-for-ohio-governor-have-now-called-for-restrictions-on-data-center-boom/ |
| S16 | Ramaswamy’s three conditions: free electricity for nearby residents, property tax relief, stricter environmental standards; pause until the General Assembly acts. | Dayton Daily News, August 2026 | https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/data-centers-must-meet-strict-rules-under-ramaswamy-proposal/article_211ffd30-465c-5fde-baa8-6be731e8d6bd.html |
| S17 | DeWine’s May 27, 2026 pause on new data center tax exemption requests. | Tribune Chronicle, August 2026 | https://www.tribtoday.com/news/local-news/2026/08/ramaswamy-acton-take-stances-on-data-centers/ |
| S18 | June 2026 effort to pass data center regulations stalled over tax breaks. | Statehouse News Bureau (Sarah Donaldson), June 11, 2026 | https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-06-11/tax-break-debate-stalls-new-ohio-data-center-laws-what-now |
| S19 | Acton’s published data center platform, including the six conditions and cost-coverage detail. | Acton for Governor, Data Centers issue page | https://actonforgovernor.com/issue/data-centers/ |
| S20 | AEP Ohio is an American Electric Power company. | AEP Ohio news release, October 23, 2024 | https://www.aepohio.com/company/news/view?releaseID=9828 |
| S21 | Experts called Acton’s plan more realistic than Ramaswamy’s and parts of it extensions of a governor’s authority; legal and practical hurdles facing Ramaswamy’s free-electricity plan. | Signal Statewide (Andrew Tobias), September 15, 2026 | https://signalohio.org/vivek-ramaswamy-data-center-policy-promises-ohio-free-electricity/ |
| S22 | Ohio law bars public authorities from requiring union agreements on public improvement contracts. | Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4116 | https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-4116 |