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Customers shouldn’t subsidize the energy needs of data centers

Driven by the explosive growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers, U.S. electricity demand and electricity prices are rising rapidly. Dozens of new data centers—each with the electricity needs of a small city—are gobbling up the nation’s power supply. Forecasters see U.S. electricity demand growing 25% by 2030—and nearly 80% by 2050. In some regions of the country, it will be far more and even faster. The nation’s largest regional electricity grid, PJM Interconnection—which stretches from Virginia to Illinois—expects that, by 2030, new data center power ...

Property tax cuts are in the spotlight

Finding ways to reduce skyrocketing property taxes that occurred in Ohio during the past couple of years is a top priority for the Republican-controlled state Legislature. It’s a difficult balancing act as property owners are screaming for tax relief while public school districts, which get most of those tax dollars, say reductions will severely impact education. For the most part, Republicans are siding with property owners though there have been a few bills introduced that would have minimal or no impact on school districts and other government entities that rely on property ...

Yost’s predictable exit may not be his last goodbye to politics

The Ohio governor’s election is more than 17 months away, but I have already written a considerable amount of articles and columns on it as candidates come and go. Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, is the latest to go after coming to the realization that he wasn’t going to beat Vivek Ramaswamy, the wealthy biotech entrepreneur who has the endorsements of the Ohio Republican Party, President Donald Trump and several prominent Ohio and national Republicans. It did not take that long for Yost to read the room, announcing his withdrawal from the race May 16. It came a week ...

Ramaswamy backing shows Trump’s control of Ohio Republican Party

Editor’s note: This column was composed prior to Friday’s announcement from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost declaring it is: ... “apparent that the steep climb to the nomination for governor has become a vertical cliff. I do not wish to divide my political party or my state with a quixotic battle over the small differences between my vision and that of my opponent. I am simply not that important. I’ve spoken at length with many people whose advice and wisdom I respect, and I haven’t come to this decision quickly or easily. I am especially grateful to those who have pledged to ...

America has resources to confront China’s extortion

It is no secret that China has weaponized control of the world’s mineral supply chains. We’ve already seen this when both the Biden and Trump administrations challenged China’s unfair trade practices. Beijing has responded by simply restricting or banning the export of minerals needed for America’s economy and defense industrial base. China’s ever-growing chokehold on mineral supply chains—and U.S. reliance on imports—has been America’s Achilles’ heel for more than a decade. According to recent government analysis, the U.S. is import-reliant for 40 critical minerals, ...

Hefty campaign donations illustrate the power of incumbency of candidates

Once in Congress, raising money becomes considerably easier. The longer you’re there, the more cash you collect — particularly from political action committees as they love winners and those who they view as allies or at least those who can help them. U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge, is serving his seventh two-year term representing the 14th Congressional District, which has Trumbull as its second most-populous county behind Lake. Joyce’s campaign always has excelled at raising money. Serving on the House Appropriations Committee and as chairman of the Financial Services and ...