Ohio can solve the electric grid's biggest problem, and grow food while doing it
In April, researchers at the International Energy Agency projected that electricity consumption from data centers that power AI and cloud computing will more than double by 2030. They'll account for an estimated 9% of U.S. energy usage by that time. For our state, this could mean higher energy costs and an electric grid pushed past its limit.
But, for Ohio's rural communities, this isn't just a challenge. It's also an opportunity.
As data centers pull a massive amount of energy from the grid, Ohio is pioneering an innovative solution: building 'microgrids' at data center sites. Microgrids are small, self-sufficient energy systems that can run independently from the main electrical grid. They generate and store energy onsite using sources including natural gas and renewables. This approach prevents data centers from overwhelming the broader grid during periods of high demand, making the whole grid more resilient.
Ohio is uniquely positioned to scale up microgrid technology. Our state sits atop abundant natural gas reserves, including the Utica and Marcellus shale formations, providing a stable, low-cost fuel source. Ohio's growing renewable energy sector offers further flexibility for powering microgrids in a sustainable way. Combining these resources can create a reliable energy supply tailored to the unique demands of data centers. Developing these microgrids also offers an economic opportunity, including good-paying jobs in construction, engineering, energy management, and data infrastructure.
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But there's another critical — and unexpected — benefit to integrating microgrids with data centers: growing healthy, fresh food year-round.
Data centers produce substantial heat and carbon dioxide — byproducts typically viewed as waste. Yet, these resources can be repurposed effectively through controlled-environment agriculture, turning them into powerful growth accelerators for local crops. The idea is simple: excess heat from data center operations can warm greenhouses, while carbon dioxide emissions can boost plant growth, creating ideal conditions for high-quality produce.
Imagine Ohio-grown strawberries, lettuce, and tomatoes harvested freshly in January and February, when there's still deep snow on the ground, powered sustainably by waste heat from AI-driven computing facilities. This approach drastically reduces transportation emissions, minimizes food spoilage, and lessens dependence on distant agricultural markets.
As a sixth-generation Ohio farmer who has also spent years in energy and technology, I see exciting synergies emerging in how we grow our food and power our economy. New innovations now allow us to transform what was previously considered waste and pollution into productive resources. For Ohio farmers, creatively utilizing waste isn't a novel concept. We've always turned animal waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer and crop residues into sustainable soil amendments.
Our state needs a plan to proactively seize opportunities with the growth of data infrastructure and AI — including the use of local energy, the maximization of local job creation, and other less obvious prospects like the expansion of year-round produce options. This should be a team effort: local and state governments, business leaders, foundations, the tech sector, farmers, and others all have a role to play.
If we fail to strategically plan the growth of data centers in Ohio, we risk higher energy costs and compromised grid reliability without generating meaningful job creation or community benefits. Likewise, if we fail to invest in local, sustainable, healthy food, we risk worsening a crisis of poor nutrition and chronic disease.
Ohio should show the world how to address both challenges at the same time.
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