OHIO — As interest in building large-scale artificial intelligence data centers continues to grow across Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine is encouraging local governments to carefully evaluate any proposals before moving forward.
Hundreds of data center projects are planned or under development across the country, with several proposed for Ohio. One of the latest proposals is an EnergiAcres project known as “The Real Stargate Ohio,” a planned AI data center campus that could be built in Belmont County.
During a recent visit to the Ohio Valley, DeWine said communities should take time to negotiate agreements that protect local interests if developers seek to build in their area.
The governor said local officials should consider issues such as water usage and infrastructure needs, noting that newer facilities can be designed to recycle water more efficiently than earlier data centers.
DeWine also said communities have the opportunity to negotiate agreements that provide benefits for local residents if they decide to move forward with a project.
The proposed Belmont County data center was recently brought to the attention of county commissioners during a public meeting by a local resident. Commissioners said they had not previously been informed of the proposal and had not been contacted by the developer.
EnergiAcres has identified Belmont County as the proposed location for the project but has not announced a specific site. According to the company, the development remains in the planning and permitting stages with a target commercial operation date in 2029.
No formal applications or requests for local approval have been announced by Belmont County officials.
