Title
Notice/Advertisement Title: Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee Hearing - Minutes
Contact Name: Chelsea Golterman
Contact Telephone Number: 614-645-3091
Contact Email Address: CLGolterman@columbus.gov
Body
Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee Hearing
Meeting Minutes
Date: July 22, 2026
Time: 5:30 P.M.
Location: Columbus City Hall, Council Chambers, 90 W. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215
Councilmembers Present:
Councilmember Christopher L. Wyche, Councilmember Emmanuel V. Remy
Call to Order:
[Chair Wyche] 5:32 P.M.
Introductions:
[Chair Christopher L. Wyche] Thank you all for joining us for our fourth Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee Hearing of the year. This evening we will have two presentations on important infrastructure related issues: Lead Service Line Replacement and Potential Data Center Regulations. I want to acknowledge my Vice Chair, Councilmember Remy.
[Vice Chair Emmanuel V. Remy] Thank you for convening this hearing. As Central Ohio continues to see rapid growth in data center development, residents have raised concerns as what that growth means. My message to residents is that we hear those concerns. The proposals before us are an important starting point. I look forward to discussing how these policies would be implemented and enforced.
[Chair Wyche] Thank you, Vice Chair. I also want to acknowledge Council President Shannon Hardin, who has been lockstep with my office in crafting data center legislation. Unfortunately, he had a prior commitment and is unable to be here today but insisted on us continuing the conversation. He and I will be debriefing tonight’s hearing next week to discuss next steps. I want to thank him and his office for their support as we move through this process.
Presentation: Lead Service Lines
[Chair Wyche] First, we will hear from Emilie Eskridge, the Regulatory Compliance Manager with the Division of Water. She is also joined by Deputy Director Jon Lee. Emilie is here to walk us through the Lead Service Line Replacement Program, discuss key takeaways from the replacement pilot, and discuss the necessary code changes to expand the program. Emilie, the floor is yours.
Emilie Eskridge, Regulatory Compliance Manager, Division of Water, Columbus Water & Power
[Ms. Eskridge] Thank you Chair Wyche and Vice Chair Remy. I wanted to start with a recap of what our program currently does. As you mentioned, we did a pilot last year. It was successful and we learned a lot. It helped us move forward with our Lead Service Line Replacement Program. The program’s goal is to ensure that we can comply with the US EPA’s regulations which require lead and galvanized service lines by 2037. One of the complexities of this rule is that it is “to the building”. This requires us to go to the home.
We are doing this through four different pathways. The first is our infrastructure maintenance pathway, which is in conjunction with current work being done. The second is emergency repair replacement, which is anytime we have a break, we will go all the way to the home. The third is street by street, which are lead dedicated projects. These are prioritized neighborhoods. Lastly, we have a grant from the Ohio EPA and we are removing all lead service lines from schools and daycares. We anticipate being done with that in a month.
Through our pilot program, we were able to replace 294 service lines. One of the takeaways from this pilot was that our private side breaks cannot be part of the Lead Service Line Replacement Program due to efficiency and cost. That means, when a customer owns a line, this program is restricted to when we approach them for replacement. We also found that we need solutions for homes that have unknown service lines. However, we do anticipate that by next year, we will have very few unknowns left. Vacant properties have also posed challenges. The other thing we learned is that the application process with the grant is really arduous for some people. We want to minimize that burden.
Immediately, we made some changes. We cemented assistance for income qualified customers within the program. We also added flexibility to our LEAP program, which is an assistance program for customers with a private-side line that they want fixed in a short-time frame. Lastly, through a partnership with SLWA of America, we are offering insurance protection on all lines. These are all ways to ensure that our customers have a good experience and that we are meeting them where we are at.
We are proposing three code changes to help us move forward with this program. The first is an expansion to the replacement area of the water service system. This would allow CWP to comply with federal rules by allowing replacement in contract communities served by our water system for removal.
The second is to require identification of unknowns. Unknowns cause us a large lack of efficiency. We currently do not have any enforcement tools to require this right now.
The last one is to allow disconnection as alternative to termination. This would allow disconnection to be an option when the building is vacant, dangerous, or at the request of the customer.
The purpose of these changes is efficiency. It will help us move forward in a fast manner and ensure that we can comply with federal requirements.
[Chair Wyche] The briefing document states that there are no budget implications to this code change, did the department already factor in these out-of-city replacements when developing the program?
[Ms. Eskridge] The short answer is yes. Only 7% of replacements are outside of city limits.
[Chair Wyche] Are we getting ahead of ourselves by shifting to outside of the city?
[Ms. Eskridge] That’s a great question. The change today has to do with the pathway around infrastructure maintenance. For us to be able to implement our infrastructure projects, we have to go forward with those replacements outside of the city.
[Chair Wyche] Are there any water quality implications if the private side is replaced prior to the main line?
[Ms. Eskridge] Anytime there is a disturbance, there is always a risk of a temporary elevation of lead in the line. That's why we take extra precautions. It does not matter if the customer does it themselves, or we are doing maintenance. Every customer receives a kit that provides tools and information regarding lead line replacement.
[Chair Wyche] How is this program being funded. Is this enterprise funds?
[Ms. Eskridge] Enterprise funds are being used to foot this bill. We also take out grants and loans whenever available.
[Vice Chair Remy] What options are available for those who do not meet the income requirements for assistance.
[Ms. Eskridge] If they do not meet the income requirements, they can utilize the LEAP program. This essentially removes the up-front cost to the customer. This is a loan, it is 99 years at 0% interest. This has been a popular program. We have also partnered with Service Line Warranty of America.
[Vice Chair Remy] CWP recently made a change to its policy that in the case of extreme weather, utility shutoffs would be paused. Should Council consider a codification of such a policy?
Jon Lee, Deputy Director, Columbus Water & Power
[Mr. Lee] Thanks for the question. When weather is below 32 degrees or above 95 degrees, we suspend shutoffs. This has been our operating policy for several years, and I do not think it is necessary to codify it.
[Vice Chair Remy] You say this has been going on for several years. Then how did this happen last week?
[Lee] The policy has been unwritten. We are now formalizing it, so there is no more confusion.
[Chair Wyche] With extreme weather in general, I think we need to look at it from department to department - what it looks like when extreme weather is becoming the norm.
Public Testimony: Lead Service Lines
[Chair Wyche] We did not have anybody signed up in advance to speak on lead service lines, but we do like to give people the opportunity to speak if they would like. Yes, go ahead and come up and introduce yourself.
Jessica Cox, Columbus Resident
[Jessica Cox] This is a quick question regarding the extreme weather disconnections. There have been some cases over the past few winters. In the case of a break on the private side, what about the emergency cases?
[Mr. Lee] On the private side, that is the responsibility of the homeowner. On the mainline, that’s our responsibility so we will address that break in any weather situation. I’m not sure that policy addresses what happens if the customer is in a shut-off situation and their water line breaks. We can look at the policy and see if that is something we can consider.
Presentation: Data Centers
[Chair Wyche] Next, we will shift to our presentation on potential date center regulations. Here to speak on behalf of the legislative research office is our Director of Legislative Research, Matt Erickson. Director Erickson is filling in for Dr. Tanisha Pruitt, the Legislative Research Officer assigned to the PUS Committee. Dr. Pruitt’s travel was delayed, and she was unable to make it back to Columbus in time. However, I wanted to shout out all the hard work done by Dr. Pruitt to get us to this moment.
Before we start, I just want to say as we consider the policies before us today and others in the future, I want us all to keep one thing in mind. Whether these data centers are built in the city, somewhere else in Ohio, or in another state on the same electric grid - our communities will still be impacted. We would rather be at the table to protect our residents and resources as much as possible and ensure our communities don’t foot the bill while receiving no real benefits. We want jobs, we want investments made in our communities - but growth should never come at the expense of our water, our air, our neighborhoods, or our wallets.
As many of you know, Council started the conversation around data centers back in March, when we held a four-hour informational hearing to learn about their operations and the impact they currently have on our water resources. Over the last four months, we have been researching policy solutions to address the residents’ concerns we heard at the hearing and the policy proposals we outline today are aimed at addressing those areas of concern. We heard loud and clear that residents want to know Columbus has environmental protections in place and a plan to preserve resources for future generations. And, most importantly, residents want a seat at the table to decide what is best for the communities they live in. This hearing kicks off that process, and we are grateful to everyone here that wants to be part of crafting the final policy.
To be overly clear and put it plainly - the legislation that was shared prior to the hearing are drafts. They will change based on the feedback from these hearings and ongoing conversations with key stakeholders, including legal counsel.
We also want your ideas. If you have potential solutions to address the concerns expressed by residents, share them with us. We are happy to take them into consideration. In addition, there are still solutions under consideration that may be introduced at future committee hearings. Each piece of legislation within the package will move at its own pace. We still have a lot to learn about our legal authority to regulate certain aspects of data center operations as a local government, but we will all learn together in a public forum.
Now, let’s jump into the presentation.
Matt Erickson, Director of Legislative Research Office, Columbus City Council
[Director Erickson] Thank you. I’ll do my best to present Dr. Pruitt’s work. After the first hearing back in March, we have been carefully considering all that we heard and crafting draft legislation that could address those concerns. These are starting points and will likely be subject to significant modification.
We have draft legislation in regard to water conservation and reuse, sewer tapping, and decommissioning plans. Much of these regulations we are discussing tonight are tied to the permit itself that Water & Power and potentially Zoning would issue. We are still reviewing what we can and cannot do as a municipality.
Starting first on the water conservation and reuse policy. We know that data centers are tremendous water users. This can put pressure on the city’s water infrastructure. The intention of this is to ensure that data centers plan ahead. Penalties for non-compliance would go towards water clean-up efforts, wetland restoration, and supplementing lead line replacement projects.
[Chair Wyche] A piece of this legislation talks about alternative water use. The intent of this is to get data centers to use non-potable water from a water reuse facility. This does not yet exist. We need to explore whether it makes sense to put things in code for future requirements or restrict the legislation to what currently exists.
[Director Erickson] With regard to sewer tapping and wastewater regulations, this is specifically about protecting streams and our sewer system from the added strain of that industrial user. This would prohibit wastewater dumping and require pretreatment. It would also prohibit the use of carcinogenic chemicals in cooling processes. This legislation empowers the Director of Water & Power to assess and assign the fines and fees associated with non-compliance to remediation practices impacted by data centers.
In regard to decommissioning, one of the biggest risks of large industrial developments is what happens when those facilities are no longer in use. Part of that permitting process that we are contemplating is the requirement to provide a decommissioning plan. It must include an identification of everything within the facility and the potential environmental impact.
[Chair Wyche] With the site restoration plan, we have been discussing internally what that actually means. We are exploring what the most responsible thing is to do.
[Director Erickson] Residents have expressed concern regarding the environmental impact of data centers. We have explored requiring an evaluation of the environmental impact of proposed data centers. This includes a quality-of-life evaluation, such as air quality and noise pollution, for residents nearby data center developments.
Additionally, we are evaluating what we are doing about how data center operators can contribute to local infrastructure. For example, broadband or digital access improvements, financial contributions to community funds, or support for affordable housing.
Finally, residents and ratepayers should not be responsible for paying for the infrastructure needed to support data centers. It is a fundamental principle that they are not incurring these costs themselves. I’m happy to take any questions.
[Chair Wyche] No questions from me. We are open to feedback. Please send it to our office. We continue to shape this policy based on feedback we receive.
Public Testimony: Data Centers
[Chair Wyche] Now, we will move into the public comment portion of the hearing. We have 21 public speakers signed up to speak. If you did not sign up, we have speaker slips out in the hallway. Please feel free to sign up.
Spencer Dirrig, Vice President of Government Affairs, Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund
[Dirrig] Thank you so much. The OEC Action Fund has been pleased to support this effort from the start. I am here to support this legislation, while asking you to make it stronger. Your decommissioning plan is important and ahead of the curve. Your water and sewer plans are transparent. The OEC Action Fund is encouraged by this step in the process.
We have identified six opportunities for improvement. The first is energy. Data centers are driving up energy bills for Columbus residents. Columbus should require data centers to utilize on renewable energy. The second area concerns decommissioning. The legislation requires no timeline for financial assurance. We ask Council to require a specific engineer estimated amount locked away before the permit is ever approved. The third area is stronger water standards. The ordinance allows facilities to set their own goals and then try their best to meet them. Fourth is our land. Simply put, some places should be off limits, such as the Big Darby. Fifth, this policy needs enforcement with teeth. A flat fee isn’t a deterrent. Real enforcement means fines that scale to the size of the company. Finally, ensure data centers foot the bill. Every bill.
Ohioans across the state have been clamoring for action on data centers. Columbus is out ahead in proposing wide ranging solutions. You have the potential to set a standard for other communities to model. We cannot afford to pass weak legislation. We are willing and able to work with Council to strengthen these proposals.
Cathy Cowan Becker, Board President, Save Ohio Parks
[Cowan Becker] I have a variety of suggestions. Throughout the three draft ordinances, there seems to be some confusion about the size of data centers regarding square feet and megawatts. Make sure you are capturing the size of data centers you want. Additionally, the definition of data center is not quite clear. Additionally, it would be better to require data centers to pay for the construction of more reclaimed water distribution mains. We should also require data centers to pay into the construction of our fourth water treatment plant. I would also suggest that data centers are required to test for legionella weekly. I think you should spell out a list of chemicals that data centers should not be allowed to put in the water. This draft ordinance also does not specify when sewer services could be terminated for data centers. There should be a point at which these data centers lose their permit or sewer service. It is also very important that data centers must post some type of financial assurance. We should be asking whether potential data centers would include any on-site, behind the meter gas plants. These gas plants are eligible for tax breaks. They can put them on a fast track, with no notice to the community. This is a huge concern. Columbus must avoid this. We need to have provisions regarding how data centers are powered. Additionally, data centers should also pay a fine if they do not comply with the goals of the Columbus Climate Action Plan. Encourage renewable energy. Utilize tax incentives to encourage data centers to use 100% renewable energy. Finally, we ask you to advocate at the state level. We need to hear the voices of the largest city, the capital city of Ohio at the state level.
Becca Pollard, Executive Director, Buckeye Environmental Network
[Pollard] I am here today to fight for a livable future for my child and her peers. The proposed policies are a step in the right direction. Regarding discharge into the sewer system, our sewer system does overflow into natural waterways. The discharge from data centers can contain toxic chemicals that cannot be filtered out by the water treatment process. I urge you to pass a moratorium on data centers in the city of Columbus. I realize that is unpopular. So at the city level, I urge you to consider the following: expand the definition of data centers, prohibit tax abatements for data centers, prohibit NDAs, develop appropriate zoning updates, prohibit use of chemicals and substances that cannot be removed, empower data centers that utilize clean energy, require data centers to pay for a new water treatment plant, specify situations that result in forfeit of permit.
Brian Larcey, Treasurer, Capital City Chapter, Central Ohio Association of Engineers
[Larcey] Despite encouraging data centers to utilize renewable energy, there will still be tremendous pressure on the grid. It’s important to differentiate the different types of energy generation. I also think renewable generation is not feasible in Ohio. There is no good way to ensure that data centers will not have a massive impact on the grid and on the state.
Lilla Meyers, Columbus Resident
[Meyers] I urge you to protect our local waterways by opposing the construction of data centers in our local community. While I focus on one specific waterway, I think my testimony applies to natural areas throughout Columbus. I experience the Big Darby Creek in multiple ways. I live, work, and spend time there. I have seen how valuable this watershed is. I am deeply concerned about the prospect of data centers being built within the vicinity of the Big Darby Creek watershed. If the watershed is degraded, we risk losing not only the animals and plants who rely on it, but the educational opportunities it holds for children. I ask you to protect this watershed by preventing development that jeopardize its health.
Reda Ashour, Columbus Resident
[Ashour] Data centers are by and large not supported by our local Columbus community. They do not benefit the residents of our city at all. Data centers use our drinking water to cool their facilities. They use the equivalent of about 21,000 households in a year. They also use large quantities of chemicals that have been linked to a variety of serious health problems. They are dubbed “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down in the environment. Utility companies pass the cost of infrastructure improvements necessary because of data centers to customers. Our city school systems struggle, families cannot make ends meet, and houselessness remains an issue in our community. Data centers do not fund jobs. I respectfully urge Columbus City Council to enact a temporary moratorium.
Madison Young, Columbus Resident
[Young] Data centers pollute our air, use our water, and raise our utility bills. The Councilman mentioned earlier that extreme weather is becoming the norm. Data centers are contributing to climate change. I believe that a ban on any new data center construction is what we should be discussing. I’d like to know if this Council is discussing a ban or moratorium on data centers. Columbus should follow the lead of other municipalities.
Lukas Skoracki, Student at The Ohio State University
[Skoracki] Data centers are making weather events, such as the Ontario ildfires, worse and increasing the strain on water and energy resources in our communities and making life worse for everyday citizens. I demand a prohibition on NDAs, a prohibition on tax abatements for data centers, no data center construction near environmentally sensitive areas, prohibition of forever chemicals, requiring data centers to pay for sewer upgrades, require data centers to pay for new water treatment plants, reclassify data centers with behind the meter power as “heavy industrial”, incentive data centers that are powered with clean energy on site, requiring decommissioning plans and specifying enforcement policies, and specifying situations that result in forfeiting those permits, including crypto-mining in data center definitions.
Samantha Baker, Columbus Resident
[Baker] I do not know why we are wasting time talking about data centers, when I do not know a single person in favor of data centers. There are only cons, there are no pros. I am 100% pro-moratorium. If that is not going to happen, we should prohibit NDAs and tax abatements for data centers. There are alternative methods to cool data centers. It would behoove this Council to research those options. Additionally, add criminal charges for data center operators in non-compliance. Make it as difficult as possible for data centers to be in our community. Finally, adding safeguards for when the grid is overpowered. When the grid is overloaded, shut off power at data centers, not in neighborhoods. I want to second what everyone has said and reiterate that people are watching, and we need representation for the people.
Jacob Grismer, Student at The Ohio State University
[Grismer] I am deeply concerned about data center expansion. Until we know that data centers won’t harm regular people, I believe we should heavily restrict them. I share the opinion of many here that we should have a moratorium. I am particularly concerned about the climate risks of data center expansion. Data center expansion will prohibit Columbus from meeting its climate goals. If we don’t have the leadership for a moratorium, then I ask for no tax abatements for data centers, to prohibit data centers near environmentally sensitive areas, to reclassify data centers with behind the meter power as “heavy industrial”, and I ditto the demands of others who have spoken before me.
Josh White, Farmer and Columbus Resident
[White] I am 100% against data center construction in Columbus and Ohio. There should be a ban. They should not be here. They have proven to be a blight to our environment. Tech companies have fooled the masses into thinking they are a necessary service to our modern society. The future of Ohio is green, not an empty shell housing servers.
Utility bills have risen since the presence of data centers has grown in Ohio. Electricity bills are unpayable because AEP continues to expand its infrastructure to accommodate date centers. I am not impressed by the City of Columbus, Columbus City Council, or your proposed legislation. I do not approve of data centers.
Kelsey Colwell, Columbus Resident
[Colwell] I oppose the construction of data centers. I oppose all governmental financial support to big tech companies. I do not believe that the construction of data centers supports jobs. We do not need AI. The government that claims to represent us has allowed the construction of 200 data centers in Ohio. I have been forced to watch as our natural world has been destroyed for the sake of industry. Please, reconsider your priorities and do the right thing.
Zen McKenzie, Columbus Resident, Columbus Recreation & Parks Employee
[McKenzie] Data centers create ecological disturbances, which include disturbances to human health, and decrease property value. The real kicker is the excessive amounts of surveillance that comes along with infrastructure development to appease tech oligarchs. If this Council cared about their constituents, they would be focusing on keeping Ohio’s resources for its people, decreasing surveillance, and increasing taxation on those resources which these corporations use.
Carl Setzer, Advocate
[Setzer] The passion in this room is inspiring. Data center projects are supported by private equity. They are not afraid of bans. The only thing they truly hate are taxes. Taxes are a weapon that a lot of us have forgotten we have. We should utilize the economic tools that we the people have to put limits on speculative bubbles. I propose that you consider being the lead that considers a tech industrial complex tax. You look at what exactly a data center is, then you tax it. These are manufacturers that take our data, analyze it, and utilize it to manufacture new products. Show the billionaire class that we will not allow them to ruin our communities and instead force them to invest in our community. Big tech must pay its fair share or get out.
Cat Adams, Organizer, Buckeye Environmental Network
[Adams] While I appreciate the intention of the proposed draft codes, I implore the Committee to take bolder action. The environmental impacts of data centers are well documented. They are driving up the cost of electricity and making it harder for working class Columbus residents to get by. I urge you to enact a moratorium on new data centers and new water usage agreements with data centers outside of the city’s limits. If the city is struggling to craft appropriate policy due to the ever-changing nature of the industry, it is completely sensible to enact a moratorium while you gather more information. None of the proposed policies strengthen mechanisms for meaningful public engagement around data center development. The committee must weigh public comment on proposed data center plans before approving them. In addition, I urge the committee to adopt an incline water use rate and prohibit NDAs. Finally, we need enforcement action with real teeth.
L. Elizabeth Wange, Owner, Exclusive Excursions
[Wange] The U.S., the State of Ohio, and the City of Columbus have not taken a stand against EPA violations, company mismanagement - they have not shown their teeth, they have not grown their teeth. There is a precedent of companies who will ruin our environment, and we will allow it. Their harshest repercussion is a fine that they can afford. Consequences with teeth set a new precedent of standards for Columbus. Citizens are here and we are informed. We have Council’s back, so you can fight the good fight for us. Too many citizens cannot be here tonight to tell you how they feel.
Daniel Elnous, Columbus Resident and Organizer
[Elnous] Our city is being flooded by data center development. None of these projects have been voted on by the community. Nobody wants these data centers. We are here to talk and hope that you listen to us and hear us. When do we get to vote on these data centers? When do we get a say - not to just talk, but to vote? On the ordinances that have been drafted, there have been no hardline rules for data centers. There is a lack of community engagement. I encourage you to actively engage with the community, spread the word, and give the community the opportunity to vote on these things.
Steve Cooper, Columbus Resident
[Cooper] I do not believe City Council is doing all they can to make sure that our best interests are being heard. Lately, we’ve noticed that line maintenance costs have been added to our monthly electric bill. Sometimes those line maintenance costs by AEP are hundreds of dollars. Let’s talk about the impact of data centers. As humans, we can advocate for ourselves. Our pets, our animals, cannot communicate the effects of pollution. That is a big deal for me. The impact of data centers on our utility bills. The cost of cleanup for data center sites when they are no longer needed. Those costs will be passed on to us. Let’s talk about the impact of data centers on wildlife. That concerns me. We talk about enforcement. My big question is, what does enforcement look like? Who finally says, “You’ve done enough, now you will finally pay for it.” We cannot keep passing it on to the consumers. We need you guys to do your jobs, even when we are not here. I want to talk about AI. AI was not intended to create jobs. It is meant to eliminate them and place money in the pockets of already rich business owners. My concern is what are we doing to ensure that we do not continue to absorb the cost of these data centers. I personally do not understand why we think data centers are needed, or why Ohio and Columbus have more data centers than other places.
Terry Rhea, Columbus Resident
[Rhea] Tonight, we have heard about getting the lead out of our children’s drinking water and data centers. They are the same fight, and you already know which side you’re on. A single data center can drink up to 5 million gallons of water a day. Columbus already raised the water rates last year, we are building new treatment plants. A few years ago, Columbus approved a 54-million-dollar tax break to Google, who was operating under the name Magellan. Never again, should this Council vote on a subsidy without knowing whose name is really on it. Data center operators have tried to push the cost of infrastructure developments to consumers. They ask the City for favors. That favor is never for us. There are three things within the City’s power: transparency, make them pay their own way, and protect the ratepayer. Communities all around us are acting. Columbus should be the leader, not the “clean up later.”
Kim Kinder-Smith, Volunteer, Conserve Ohio
[Kinder-Smith] I am here to tell you what the people in Columbus think about data centers. Everyday, everyone, left and right, hates data centers. They know they are bad. Your constituents do not want data centers. This is becoming a voter issue. They want leaders who listen to them and understand what they want. Please listen to everything people have said. A moratorium is not a bad word. It is a smart word. It gives you the ability to take a pause and do it right. Please, listen to your constituents. Thank you.
Leanne S. Wheeler, U.S. Air Force Veteran, Columbus Resident
[Wheeler] I cannot add to what the brilliant people have said this evening. First, I am on the older end of Gen X. I want to acknowledge that my generation and previous generations have left young people a mess to clean up. I intend to partner with you young people to clean up this mess. I have a few questions I’d like to give volume and mass to, then I will take my seat. Is Columbus still a home-rule city? Has the public health entity of this City been involved in the discussions surrounding data centers? Do we have access to, as constituents, the named lobbyists of these data centers that are coming into play? Are they here now? Which of the sites now have gone through planning and zoning as a potential site for these?
[Chair Wyche] Nothing is published, but there is actually nothing before us.
[Wheeler] Okay. I imagine you’re being lobbied. With that, when we speak about what already exists, it is not within the municipality of Columbus?
[Chair Wyche] There’s about 18 in city limits, one of which would be considered a hyper-scale location.
[Wheeler] I’ll speak for my neighbors. We want all of that information to be accessible. One final remark: data centers aren’t new. They had a military application before they showed up in private sector. This application does not differ from what we used it for on the military side. That is data collection, surveillance, reporting, and profile building. It is an effort to collect our data and manufacture our data.
MgGlenn Etienne, Columbus Resident
[Etienne] I did not come here planning on speaking. I have heard of a lot of statements that I agree with. Regarding water waste, water cleanup, and what that looks like, is there going to be an auditing process for that and what does that look like? This is an important concern if we were to move forward with the proposed legislation.
[Chair Wyche] Great question. The legislation talks about onsite monitoring that would be paid by the data center developer. The information collected would be reviewed by Columbus Water & Power. We’re flexible as we continue to review the legislation.
[Etienne] Interesting. I think it should be a third-party person who reviews the information. Thank you.
Corinne Embi, Columbus Resident
[Embi] I am 19 years old, and I assume that I am one of the youngest people here. I also did not plan on speaking today, I know I am not as educated on these disciplines as other people here. However, I wanted to give my thoughts on this as a younger person and as an artist. I’ve always hated AI and data centers. It seems a little childish the level of hate that I have. But I think that’s a good thing. That is what I want for all of you to do. I want for you all to not be nice or mature about this. The other side is not being mature or nice about this. They are in this for their own selfish gains. So ultra wealthy elites can live in paradise, while destroying the environment and my future. I want you guys to be angry, decisive, and mean to them. I think that has been expressed here tonight.
Dominic Mazzone, Columbus Resident, Columbus Water & Power Employee
[Mazzone] I agree with a lot of what my peers have shared today. I share all of their passion. I am going to mainly focus on the water use issue. I have a unique position in that I can see in real time what current projects are being built and what is in review. In New Albany alone, we are reviewing about 30 new data center and industrial sites. More keep coming. One of Google’s sites in New Albany used 3.2 million gallons of water a day. For context, the US has over 5000 data centers. China, our rival, has 450 in their entire country. I think it is necessary to require current, active data centers to monitor their water use and report it. They must pay their fair share for it. I’d also like to voice my support for a moratorium. Data centers do not provide any real benefit. They use our resources, invade our privacy, and track us. I don’t think these drafts are enough. Please listen to us and enact a moratorium if possible.
[Chair Wyche] Thank you for being here. That was the goal of our proposed water reuse legislation. It has been clear from the feedback that we have not done enough.
Closing Remarks
[Chair Wyche] Thank you to everyone who showed up. One of the reasons we wanted to have another hearing related to data centers is because we received so much feedback from residents at the last hearing. We also wanted to give folks who did not sign up in advance the option to speak. We want everyone to have the opportunity to voice their opinion. As I mentioned at the beginning of the hearing, we will continue to take feedback as we move through the legislative process. You can email my Aide Chelsea at CLGolterman@columbus.gov to give us your thoughts and ideas. Our next planned hearing is September 16 at 5:30 in Council Chambers. Mark your calendars, we’d love to have you back. As of the start of the hearing, my office received 20 pieces of written testimony. You can review the written testimony and the presentations given by visiting my webpage at columbus.gov. Thank you to all who attended the hearing or joined us online.
Written Testimony
Visit <https://bit.ly/WycheCBUSCityCouncil> to review all submitted testimony and presentations.
Adjournment
[Chair Wyche] 8:53 P.M.
The next Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee Hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 5:30 P.M. in Council Chambers, City Hall, 90 W. Broad St Those who wish to testify can email <CLGolterman@columbus.gov> by noon the day before the hearing. Constituents can reach Councilmember Christopher L. Wyche’s Aide at <CLGolterman@columbus.gov> or his Analyst at <EMMorales@columbus.gov>. To stay up to date with Councilmember Wyche by following him on social media or by subscribing to his newsletter at <bit.ly/WycheCBUSCityCouncil>. Upcoming events and public hearings hosted by Councilmember Wyche can be found at <bit.ly/WednesdaysWithWyche>. Members of the public can watch Columbus City Council Meetings and Council Committee Public Hearings at <youtube.com/cityofcolumbus>.