Markets / Columbus
C&W 2026 Americas · Primary #4 · updated 2026-11-05
Columbus / Central Ohio
The tariff squeezed out speculative load, so the queue is real now. But the ring towns around New Albany are voting bans in, the tax exemption is paused, and the governor-elect wants conditions. Contracted AEP capacity is the asset. Expect suburban siting to fail more often.
coolingGrid: AEP Ohio (PJM); also AES Ohio, co-ops
C&W: over 1 GW under construction, 9.7 GW planned [Cushman & Wakefield, 2026 Global Data Center Market Comparison (Americas rankings) (2026-05); F&L Asia: Global data centre market enters managed growth phase (C&W 2026 figures) (2026-05)]
Power and the queue
- AEP Ohio's PUCO-approved data center tariff requires collateral, minimum demand charges, 8-12-year contracts, and exit fees. [AEP Ohio: Data Center Tariff (2026-11-05)]
- AEP Ohio: more than 30,000 MW of pre-tariff requests narrowed to 13,022.7 MW that paid for studies, then 5,642 MW of signed contracts under the data center tariff (as of Feb 12, 2026). That is on top of 12,219 MW signed before the tariff, for 17,861 MW contracted through 2035. AEP Ohio's peak is about 8,000-10,500 MW. [AEP Ohio: Updates PUCO on data center load, figures show tariff is working (2026-02)]
Notable projects owners where public
- Meta Prometheus (New Albany), about 1 GW, first phase reported online. Others reported in an aggregator: Cologix Johnstown, about 800 MW; Google New Albany; AWS; QTS; Vantage; Microsoft (Heath/Hebron).uncertain [Inside the Datacenter: Every data center in Ohio (aggregator) (2026-11-05)]
- Stargate PORTS-Pike (Pike County): first 800 MW targeted for 2028. Lordstown (NE Ohio) has no operating buildings yet.uncertain [Stargate.how: October status check, where every Stargate site stands (2026-10-18)]
Regulatory posture incentives, moratoria, zoning, water, large-load rules
- May 27, 2026: Gov. DeWine paused new data center sales-tax exemption requests while the Joint Data Center Committee studies growth. Existing agreements are unaffected. [Ohio Governor: DeWine announces pause of data center tax exemption (2026-05-27)]
- Nov 3, 2026 ballots: at least 14 Ohio bans or limits passed. In Central Ohio, Grove City (Franklin Co.) now requires a public vote for 50+ acres, 20 MW+, or 500k gal/day; Pataskala and Granville (Licking Co.) passed bans; Sunbury (Delaware Co.) banned facilities over 25 MW. [DCD: Local data center moratoria, limits, and restrictions voted in across the US (2026-11-04)]
- Governor-elect Amy Acton backs a 'conditional moratorium': 100% utility-cost coverage, union labor, and transparency. [DCD: Anti-data center candidates claim victory across the US in 2026 midterm elections (2026-11-04)]
Pending legislation and actions 13 items
| Date | Jurisdiction | Item | Status | Impact | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-04 | Ohio state | Governor-elect pledge: conditional moratoriumuncertain Amy Acton (elected Nov 3) backs a conditional moratorium: 100% of utility costs covered, union labor, transparency, and environmental standards. | proposed | high | [DCD: Anti-data center candidates claim victory across the US in 2026 midterm elections (2026-11-04)] |
| 2026-09-10 | Perry village | Village of Perry (Lake County) proposed Ordinance No. 2026-13, a one-year moratorium on accepting and approving applications for data centers, excluding the Champion Farm property, declaring an emergeuncertain If adopted, a one-year pause on data center applications village-wide (except Champion Farm) to study whether zoning changes are needed. Duration: One (1) year from the effective date (as drafted); emergency clause, effective on passage and mayoral approval | pending | medium | [Village of Perry (2026-09-10)] |
| 2026-06-10 | Ohio state | HB 646 Creates Data Center Study Commission to study environmental impacts, grid and rate effects, water and wastewater, noise, light, local economy, farmland, national security, and opposition messaging; report due within six months if enacted. | pending | medium | [HB 646 - Data Center Study Commission - 136th GA] |
| 2026-03-25 | Ohio state | SB 374 Prohibits new data center sales and use tax exemptions after a specified date, reported as 2027-10-01. | pending | medium | [SB 374 status/action history] |
| 2026-03-25 | Ohio state | SB 381 Requires PUCO approval of agreements to interconnect data centers to the electrical grid; cosponsors include Willis Blackshear, Hearcel Craig, Bill DeMora, and Kent Smith. | pending | medium | [SB 381 status/action history] |
| 2026-02-25 | Ohio state | HB 706 Imposes minimum requirements on data center customers; minimum 12-year contract commitments, exit payments, unused capacity charges, and financial assurances so grid costs are not shifted to other customers. | pending | medium | [HB 706 - minimum requirements on data center customers - 136th GA] |
| 2025-05-07 | Ohio state | SB 190 Tax package amending ORC 122.175 data center exemption mechanics, definitions, compliance, and reporting. | pending | medium | [SB 190 status/action history] |
| 2025-03-19 | Ohio state | SB 145 Broad development/housing package amending ORC 122.175 and related data center tax-exemption language. | pending | medium | [SB 145 status/action history] |
| 2026-06-10 | Ohio state | HB 392 Ohio Right to Compute Act; limits state and local restrictions on computational resources, with AI risk-management requirements and nuisance language tied to physical infrastructure. | pending | low | [HB 392 - Ohio Right to Compute Act - 136th GA] |
| 2026-03-25 | Ohio state | HB 784uncertain Requires monthly and yearly data center water consumption reporting and prohibits data center water-use information in nondisclosure agreements with political subdivisions. | pending | low | [HB 784 - data center water consumption reports - 136th GA] |
| 2026-03-25 | Ohio state | SB 378 Responsible Water Use by Data Centers Act; requires data centers to pay attributable water/sewer infrastructure costs, creates water-use permitting/reporting, and bars permits for new or increased consumptive use over 5 million gallons per day averaged over 30 | pending | low | [SB 378 status/action history] |
| 2026-02-25 | Ohio state | HB 710 Prohibits public support for, and limits construction of, new data centers; restricts subsidies and siting near certain sensitive lands and requires developer cost responsibility. | pending | low | [HB 710 - prohibit public support for new data centers - 136th GA] |
| 2026-02-18 | Ohio state | HB 695 Prohibits certain county, township, and village officials from entering nondisclosure agreements; response to data center secrecy concerns but not data-center-specific in title. | pending | low | [HB 695 - NDA prohibition for local officials - 136th GA] |
In force / enacted 24 items
| Date | Jurisdiction | Item | Status | Impact | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-03 | Granville (Licking Co.) village | Nov 3, 2026 ballot measureuncertain Voters approved a data center ban. | enacted | high | [DCD: Local data center moratoria, limits, and restrictions voted in across the US (2026-11-04)] |
| 2026-11-03 | Sunbury (Delaware Co.) city | Nov 3, 2026 ballot measureuncertain Voters banned data centers over 25 MW. | enacted | high | [DCD: Local data center moratoria, limits, and restrictions voted in across the US (2026-11-04)] |
| 2026-11-03 | Pataskala (Licking Co.) city | Nov 3, 2026 ballot measureuncertain Voters banned large-scale data centers. | enacted | high | [DCD: Local data center moratoria, limits, and restrictions voted in across the US (2026-11-04)] |
| 2026-10-09 | PJM (13 states + DC) utility | FERC order ER26-3515: PJM Large Load definition and registry FERC accepted the definition and registry, effective Oct 12, 2026, and rejected the rest of the filing. The registry is not a public per-request queue. | enacted | high | [FERC order ER26-3515 on PJM Large Load definition and registry (2026-10-09)] |
| 2026-08-17 | Mount Gilead village | Village of Mount Gilead Ordinance 2027, temporary moratorium not to exceed one year on new permits and on receipt/processing of permit applications for data centers Pause on data center permits while the village reviews zoning. Duration: Not to exceed one year. | in force | high | [https://www.mountgilead.net/Council-August-17-2026-minutes.pdf] |
| 2026-08-10 | Plain City village | Ordinance 37-2026, 'Establishing a Temporary Moratorium on Data Center Development Within the Corporate Limits of the Village of Plain City and Declaring an Emergency' (adopted 2026-08-10); does not a Council enacted a one-year moratorium (Ord. 37-2026) to research and develop data center zoning regulations. Duration: One year; council may extend or remove by legislation Current end: 2027-08-10. | in force | high | [Council Regular Meeting Packet, August 10, 2026 (2026-08-10)] |
| 2026-07-27 | Buckeye Lake village | Village of Buckeye Lake Resolution No. 2026-13 (emergency, under Village Charter home-rule powers), a one-year moratorium on accepting and issuing applications and permits for constructing or operatin Council to consider whether data centers are appropriate in the village. Social media reports voters may decide the issue (unverified). Duration: One (1) year | in force | high | [Village of Buckeye Lake] |
| 2026-06-01 | Grove City city | City Council emergency ordinance; Ordinance C-22-26, passed 6-1 Adopted 6-1 as an emergency measure; imposes a 12-month moratorium on establishment, development, processing, review, and approval of high-density computing facilities Duration: 12 months | in force | high | [City of Grove City (2026-06-01)] |
| 2026-06 | Washington Township (Pickaway County) township | Washington Township (Pickaway County) Board of Trustees data center moratorium (instrument not seen; legal notice at publicnoticesohio.com ID 297107)uncertain Unknown beyond moratorium. Duration: Until July 2027 (per OCJ map). | in force | high | [https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/30091302/embed?auto=1] |
| 2026-05-27 | Ohio state | Governor pause on new data center sales-tax exemption requests The Tax Credit Authority paused new requests while the Joint Data Center Committee studies growth. Existing agreements are unaffected. | in force | high | [Ohio Governor: DeWine announces pause of data center tax exemption (2026-05-27)] |
| 2026-05-12 | Jackson Township (Franklin County) township | Resolution 2026-049, "Data Center Moratorium," Jackson Township Board of Trustees, 3756 Hoover Road, Grove City, Ohio 43123 One-year moratorium on new data centers adopted by resolution Duration: Reported as one year (10TV, 614NOW); the official agenda item text itself does not state a duration | in force | high | [Agenda, Regular Meeting, Jackson Township Board of Trustees, May 12, 2026 (2026-05-12)] |
| 2026-05-04 | Commercial Point village | Village of Commercial Point Ordinance 2026-09, 18-month moratorium on data center development under R.C. 715.01 and 713.02, declared an emergency Village suspended review of the K-Nova application and offered to refund its $534,121.85 fee; developer refused and sued. Duration: 18 months. | in force | high | [Circleville Herald] |
| 2026-04-15 | Prairie Township (Franklin County) township | Prairie Township (Franklin County) Trustee Resolution No. 18-26, six-month moratorium on zoning permits for data centers Zoning Commission and consultants drafting data center text amendments to the zoning resolution. Duration: Six months, until 11:59 p.m. October 15, 2026 Current end: 2026-10-15. | in force | high | [Prairie Township (Franklin County) (2026-04-15)] |
| 2026-04-15 | Sunbury city | City of Sunbury Resolution No. 2026.12, temporary moratorium on data centers (permits, certificates of use, development plans, rezoning to L-I) through January 31, 2027 City administration and council reviewing federal/state law and city zoning; studying data center impacts. Duration: Through January 31, 2027, extendable by majority vote Current end: 2027-01-31. | in force | high | [City of Sunbury] |
| 2026-04-01 | Trenton Township (Delaware County) township | Trenton Township Board of Trustees resolution imposing a temporary moratorium on zoning certificates, site plans and development applications for data centers in unincorporated Trenton Township (resol Township Zoning Commission directed to review and propose zoning amendments for data centers. Duration: 12 months from the date of adoption | in force | high | [Delaware Gazette (2026-06-27)] |
| 2026-03-05 | Scioto Township (Pickaway County) township | Trustee resolution reported by Scioto Post [CITE: resolution number not posted to township website 2026-04-29] Zoning language review expected during 12-month moratorium Duration: 12 months (Trustee Wolfe's 6-month proposal rejected) | in force | high | [Scioto Township Enacts 12-Month Data Center Moratorium Amid Statewide Tech Surge] |
| 2026-02-24 | Pleasant Township (Franklin County) township | Pleasant Township (Franklin County) Trustee Resolution 11 (2026) placing a moratorium on any building of data centers in the townshipuncertain Moratorium on data center building in the township; annexation to Grove City could remove the land from township zoning. Duration: No time limit stated in the resolution per Columbus Dispatch; OCJ map lists one year (to February 2027) | in force | high | [Columbus Dispatch (2026-05-11)] |
| 2026-02-12 | AEP Ohio utility | AEP Ohio data center tariff (PUCO-approved)uncertain Collateral, minimum demand charges, 8-12-year contracts and exit fees. More than 30 GW of pre-tariff requests fell to 5,642 MW of signed contracts (Feb 12, 2026), plus 12,219 MW signed before the tariff. | in force | high | [AEP Ohio: Data Center Tariff (2026-11-05)] |
| 2026-02-02 | Muhlenberg Township (Pickaway County) township | Muhlenberg Township (Pickaway County) Trustee Resolution 2026-10, 12-month moratorium on receipt, processing, issuance or approval of zoning certificate applications for data centers Pause to update township zoning and await state action (HB 646 study commission). Duration: 12 months; trustee said it runs out February 3, 2027. | in force | high | [Circleville Herald] |
| 2025-12-22 | Village of Ashville village | Ordinance 2025-13; extended by Ordinance 2026-14 (adopted 2026-07-06 as an emergency measure, readings waived)uncertain Resolution 06-2026 authorized a development/consultant-funding agreement (Term Summary, Exhibit A) with EdgeConneX/PowerConneX, allocating $39,300 for GAI Consultants' independent technical review of the proposed project. It did not repeal the moratorium, whic | in force | high | [What did the Supreme Court rule about the Ashville Data Center? (2026-09)] |
| 2025-12-09 | Washington Township (Franklin County) township | Board of Trustees Motion #2025.12.09.001 (90-day initial moratorium, 2025-12-09), extended by Resolution #2026.02.10.005 (2026-02-10), citing R.C. 519.02 (township zoning authority).uncertain Legal review and possible zoning work; final extension record not captured Duration: 90 days initial (2025-12-09 to 2026-03-09), then extended six months to 2026-09-05 by Resolution #2026.02.10.005, adopted unanimously (roll call, all present voting Aye) at th | in force | high | [Minutes of February 10, 2026 (2026-02-10)] |
| 2025-06-30 | Ohio state | HB 96 Budget bill amended ORC 122.175 computer data center sales and use tax exemption framework; veto blocked repeal of the exemption. | enacted | high | [HB 96 - FY2026-27 state budget - 136th GA] |
| 2026-11-03 | Grove City (Franklin Co.) city | Nov 3, 2026 ballot measureuncertain Voters now require a public vote on projects over 50 acres, 20 MW, or 500,000 gal/day of water. | enacted | medium | [DCD: Local data center moratoria, limits, and restrictions voted in across the US (2026-11-04)] |
| 2026-11-03 | Ashville (Pickaway Co.) village | Nov 3, 2026 ballot measureuncertain Voters rejected a term sheet for two EdgeConneX data centers. | enacted | medium | [DCD: Local data center moratoria, limits, and restrictions voted in across the US (2026-11-04)] |
Pricing & supply snapshot directional
MW Desk estimate / directional range, Q4 2026
Asking-rate bands below are MW Desk directional estimates in USD per kW-month. They are rounded ranges, not quoted rates, and they go stale quickly.
- Retail colo (roughly 0–250 kW): $155–410/kW-mo
- Wholesale (roughly 250 kW–4 MW): $95–210/kW-mo
- Large / hyperscale blocks (roughly 4 MW+): $100–200/kW-mo
- Vacancy band: under 0.5% (extremely tight)
- Commissioned inventory (directional): ~0.9–1.4 GW
- Available power (directional): ~0–15 MW
- Under construction: ~30–120 MW
- Planned pipeline: ~3.4–4.1 GW
- Absorption: strong positive absorption
- Power / timing: Immediate powered shell is scarce; expect multi-year waits for net-new large-load service in constrained pockets.
Indicative only. Ranges are rounded and adjusted directional estimates, not quoted asking rates or a survey. Confirm with brokers and operators before acting. Source data ages quickly.
TJ field notes
Coming soon: TJ's on-the-ground notes on this market. Expect what the queue really looks like, which sites can actually get power, and what the brokers aren't saying.
Slot reserved for TJ's detailed market report.