Ohio's big data centers will now be required to allocate at least 85% of their energy consumption towards supporting grid improvements.

This agreement was reached through collaboration between American Electric Power Co., the Ohio Public Utilities Commission staff, the state consumer advocate, a manufacturers group, and major retailers such as Walmart.

The settlement aims to address the financial implications of energy usage by large data centers, ensuring that they contribute sufficiently to the infrastructure needed for a reliable energy supply. This development reflects ongoing efforts to balance the energy demands of expanding data center operations with the requirement for sustainable grid development in Ohio.