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What does a data center in your backyard mean for your utility bill?

The proposed site of the data center is currently wooded and owned by the city.
Isabel Nissley
/
WVXU
The proposed site of the data center in Butler County is 1380 University Blvd. The land is currently wooded and owned by the city.

Data centers are big business in the United States. U.S. spending on data center construction hit a record high of $40 million per year in 2025, according to a Bank of America Global Research report citing Census data.

Central Ohio is emerging as a data center hot spot, with operators attracted to the area because of tax incentives and readily available land.

In Butler County, proposals for data centers in Hamilton and Trenton are drawing pushback from residents concerned for a number of reasons, including fears that their utility bills might increase.

On Cincinnati Edition, we discuss the data center boom and what it could mean for residents and business owners across the region.

Guests:

  • Ellen Thomas, senior reporter, Business Insider
  • Isabel Nissley, environment reporter, WVXU
  • Jay Kidd, business owner and resident of Hamilton

Beginning at noon, call 513-419-7100 or email talk@wvxu.org to have your voice heard on this topic. You can catch a recorded replay at 8 p.m.

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