Any power generation that occurs on site, like rooftop solar, wind turbines, or backup power generators is considered “behind-the-meter” by utilities. These means of generation operate entirely independently from the grid. 

Some data centers are turning to behind-the-meter power generation to increase power availability on site to align power generation with real-time demand and to alleviate stress on the consumer power grid. Data centers are predominantly turning to natural gas-fired turbines as an alternative behind-the-meter power source.

The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) governs major energy projects, generally those with generation capacities of 50 megawatts (MW) or more. The City of New Albany does not have the authority to approve, deny, or otherwise determine whether these facilities are constructed. Decisions regarding the need for the facility, fuel type, capacity, and operation are made at the state level through the OPSB’s review and certification process. The City can encourage specific site layouts, buffering, and acoustic measures via the zoning process. Emissions and other environmental impacts are permitted under the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA).

The energy infrastructure required to support hyperscale data centers in New Albany may generate a distinct and additive category of tax revenue. When owned and operated by a third-party provider, this infrastructure is taxed as Public Utility Tangible Personal Property (PUPP) at full millage rates. PUPP revenues are additive to the overall revenue mix and are not eligible for CRA abatement or TIF capture, ensuring they flow directly at full millage to schools, townships, and other local jurisdictions. The PUPP revenues generated from third-party power generation infrastructure represents the highest revenue generation per acre use in the history of the New Albany International Business Park.

The Ohio Power Siting Board is currently reviewing the PowerConneX New Albany 3 Energy Center (Case No. 26-361-EL-BGN), a proposed natural gas generation facility in Licking County.

EdgeConneX has developed a fact sheet explaining its proposed on-site natural gas generation project, the OPSB’s review process, and answers to other frequently asked questions. Read the full fact sheet here.

The City recognizes the importance of public participation in the Ohio Power Siting Board’s (OPSB) process. To help residents stay informed and access public hearing information, we are providing a direct link to the OPSB’s public meeting calendar. Please note that the OPSB manages its events calendar. Please check back on the OPSB’s website for the latest information on upcoming hearings.

The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) is the state agency responsible for reviewing, modifying, approving, or denying natural gas facilities that generate a minimum of 50 megawatts (MW) of power. 

The OSPB is comprised of experts from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Department of Development, Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, as well as legislators from the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives. The board and legislative members who make up the OPSB are listed on the agency’s website.

Under Ohio Revised Code Section 4906.10, the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) reviews applications for major utility facilities and may approve an application, deny it, or approve it with additional conditions or modifications. Before approving a natural gas power generation project, the Board must determine that:

• Environmental impacts have been evaluated. The Board must consider the project’s likely environmental impacts and determine whether it represents the minimum adverse environmental impact, considering available technology, alternatives, costs, and other relevant factors.

• The project complies with applicable environmental standards. The Board must determine that the facility will comply with applicable state laws and regulations governing air pollution, solid and hazardous waste, water pollution, and aviation safety.

• The project serves the public interest. The Board must determine that the facility serves the public interest, convenience, and necessity.

• Water conservation practices are incorporated. The facility must incorporate maximum feasible water conservation practices, considering available technology, costs, and alternatives.

• Electric system reliability is considered. The Board must evaluate whether the facility is consistent with regional electric grid expansion plans and will serve the interests of electric system efficiency and reliability.

The OPSB bases its decision on the application and the record developed during its review. It may approve a project with additional conditions or modifications related to construction, operation, or maintenance.

The City has no decision-making power to approve or deny any project. The City can legally advocate for its planning and zoning standards to be met by intervening as a party in Ohio Power Siting cases. The City has intervened in natural gas power generation proceedings, working with specialized legal counsel to represent the interests of New Albany. Through this process, the City has been successful in ensuring that our planning and zoning standards were adopted as conditions of the OPSB rulings.  

The City will continue to participate in these proceedings. Documents related to these proceedings are publicly available through the OPSB. 

The Ohio Power Siting Board is responsible for setting the date, time, and location of the local public hearings. That information is publicly available on the Ohio Power Siting Board’s website as well as published in local newspapers as required by law. Copies of the applications themselves are available online and at local public libraries as required by law.

Additionally, the project developer is required by law to notify each property owner and affected tenant within a proposed project area and to certify to the Ohio Power Siting Board that they have done so. 

The City has added additional information to its data center website about natural gas generation and how residents can participate in the Ohio Power Siting Board’s (OPSB) public meeting process. We plan to share this resource with residents on a quarterly basis through our weekly Connects newsletter. 

In New Albany, there are four generation facilities supplying four data center projects that meet these criteria. The remaining data center projects receive power from AEP or through air cooled engineered solutions. While the New Albany International Business Park is home to 40 data centers, those facilities are located across 15 individual company campuses. 

New Albany is no longer approving additional annexation or zoning requests for data center development as the City focuses on expanding other Business Park clusters. Since April 2025, all approved rezoning applications have excluded data centers as a primary use. Data centers are permitted only as ancillary or auxiliary uses to a primary use group, with restrictions on their square footage and function to ensure they remain secondary to the primary use.

The environmental and health impacts of natural gas generation facilities lie with the Ohio Power Siting Board and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA), pursuant to Ohio law.

It is the OPSB’s statutory duty to determine the probable environmental impact of a proposed project and whether the project represents the minimum adverse environmental impact, considering the state of available technology and other relevant considerations, consistent with Ohio Revised Code 4906.10(A)(2)and(3). The OPSB is the entity both required and best positioned to determine the environmental or health impacts of the projects, and the only entity with the authority to approve, modify, or deny a project based on its findings. 

In addition to the OPSB’s oversight, the OEPA regulates natural gas generation facilities in the same way all power plants are regulated. A data center power plant must abide by air and water permit requirements that keep pollution and discharge levels below state and federal standards. OEPA maintains a network of air monitoring sites. There are several OEPA air monitoring sites in the Columbus area, including at New Albany High School.

City officials have met with and continue to meet with the leadership and technical experts at the OEPA to understand its review process and the criteria for approval of the required OEPA applications, including air permits. 

The potential impacts of multiple projects within the same region are addressed through the regulatory processes of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) and the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB). OEPA reviews the air quality impacts of each project as part of its permitting process, including applicable regulatory requirements and existing air quality conditions. The OPSB is required to consider applicable environmental factors when reviewing applications and making decisions on projects before the board. 

As part of its permitting responsibilities, OEPA must ensure projects comply with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and applicable Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) requirements, including limits on allowable increases in air pollutant concentrations above established baseline levels. NAAQS are federal standards that establish allowable concentrations of specific pollutants in outdoor air to protect public health and the environment. The PSD program is a federal preconstruction permitting program under the Clean Air Act designed to protect air quality in areas that meet established air quality standards. The PSD program is triggered by a PSD permit, which sets the baseline air quality and limits the amount air quality can degrade. In New Albany, the Intel Program triggered the PSD permit. *Source: OEPA 

The OEPA works with applicants to develop a modeling protocol. All new applications are modeled “on top” of the current model, thereby providing a cumulative impact assessment for OEPA to evaluate based on the NAAQS and PSD increments. *Source: OEPA 

Some data centers may use electricity generated by a nearby, dedicated natural gas power plant rather than relying entirely on Ohio’s electric grid. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) regulates, monitors, and limits natural gas generation facilities’ air emissions and wastewater discharges. 

These facilities are subject to the same regulatory framework as other power plants. They must comply with applicable air and water permit requirements designed to limit pollution and discharges in accordance with state and federal standards.

The OEPA investigates environmental complaints and potential violations in Ohio. To submit an environmental complaint, visit the OEPA website. 

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), in partnership with Franklin County Public Health, operates a neighborhood air quality monitoring network throughout Franklin County. Residents can use MORPC’s interactive air quality dashboard to view available monitoring data and learn more about air quality in their area. 

Residents can also visit AirNow.gov to check local air quality information based on data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its monitoring partners. AirNow provides air quality information by location, including ZIP code. 

There are no plans to build a nuclear power plant in New Albany. Throughout 2025 and early 2026, several tech companies, including Meta (which has data center infrastructure in New Albany), have announced power generation contracts with nuclear power providers. None of these projects involve constructing a nuclear facility in our community.

Meta’s announcement relates to agreements that support existing nuclear plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania and the future development of advanced nuclear technology at locations outside of New Albany. Meta’s New Albany data center will draw power from the regional electric grid, and Meta pays the full cost of the energy it uses. 

Please review Meta’s nuclear power generation press release for more information.