Democratic Candidates Propose Data Center Moratoriums in WV and Ohio

Democratic candidates in West Virginia and Ohio are pushing for legislative pauses on the expansion of large-scale data centers. Ace Parsi, a candidate for the District 2 U.S. House seat, proposed the Neighbors, Not Servers Act on Friday. The bill would establish a two-year moratorium on new data centers using 20 megawatts or more of power, ban nondisclosure agreements between developers and public officials, and require local referendums for new projects.

In Ohio, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton has similarly called for a conditional moratorium on data center development, criticizing the influence of corporate interests. These proposals clash with existing policies and opposing platforms. In West Virginia, Representative Riley Moore has cosponsored the Ratepayer Protection Act to ensure data centers cover the full incremental costs of energy infrastructure. This follows the state's 2025 Power Generation and Consumption Act, which sought to attract the industry through tax incentives and streamlined development.

In Ohio, Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy has proposed a different approach, suggesting that developers be required to pay full property taxes and provide free electricity to nearby families. The debate centers on balancing the economic drive for artificial intelligence infrastructure with the impact on local utility costs and community autonomy.