Hardin, Wyche propose new Columbus data center guardrails

Columbus leaders are proposing a set of new guardrails on future data center projects.

Why it matters: Data centers are critical to AI infrastructure — they're also facing major public backlash locally, statewide and nationally.

The latest: At a Wednesday press conference, Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin and Councilmember Christopher Wyche spoke in support of new legislation that Hardin hopes "can allow us to avoid higher rates on other residents and ratepayers."

State of play: They introduced an ordinance this week to require Columbus Water & Power to develop a new set of rates and charges for "large load/high-volume industrial and manufacturing users," including data centers.

They say the change would ensure "high water users" pay their "fair share of infrastructure investment."

Council is expected to vote on that ordinance Sept. 28.

In addition, the pair announced a three-part package of proposals at a Wednesday hearing of the Public Utilities & Sustainability Committee, which Wyche chairs.

The package includes:

A new ordinance aiming to mitigate environmental impacts of on-site energy generation — increasingly known as behind-the-meter or bring-your-own-energy policies — and require 30% come from renewable sources.

Water conservation requirements designed to promote efficiency by adding public disclosures about water usage and encouraging the use of reclaimed water.

Requiring data centers to have a "decommissioning plan" that ensures a site is "reusable" and lays out electronics disposal.

What they're saying: "The economic benefits of growth matter, but so do the costs and who bears them," Hardin says.

"My focus is making sure we understand what those costs mean for the city budget and for the people who open their water bills every month."

The big picture: Increasingly unpopular data center projects are seeing major backlash across the country.

Communities are pushing back on developments that support similarly controversial AI companies and use massive amounts of energy.

Yes, but: Project construction is boosting job growth (especially in Central Ohio) and bringing tech giants to town, giving leaders an incentive to forge compromises rather than enact full bans.