Ohio data center tax break suspended amid battle over paying cost for AI power

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) suspended the state’s tax exemption for new data centers, which has drawn developers of the power facilities to the Buckeye State amid the boom of artificial intelligence.

DeWine, in an announcement Wednesday, said he directed the chair of the Ohio Tax Credit Authority to temporarily halt consideration of new data center tax exemption requests while the Ohio General Assembly “studies the growth” of data centers in the state.

Ohio joins a handful of other states considering changes to its tax breaks on data centers as technology companies are increasingly asked to bear the costs of the large-scale facilities.

Ohio’s tax breaks for data centers increased to $1.5 billion last year, far over the $135 million projections, according to local news reports.

“The Legislature removed this Sales Tax Exemption on Data Centers in the........

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