Brian Chavez Ohio State Senator

It was a honor to preside over the Non-Voting Session introducing the Capital Bill. Capital projects are an important investment of the state in our communities.

Yesterday, State Representative Adam Holmes and I co-chaired the first meeting of the Joint Data Center Committee. Our mission is to ensure that Ohio citizens have accurate, relevant, and usable information concerning the economic, environmental, and security impacts of Ohio's data center development. The information will be gathered in part through discussion with experts, stakeholders, interested parties, and Ohio citizens.

This first hearing was invited testimony from the Data Center Coalition, PJM Interconnection, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the Ohio Consumers Council, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

I appreciated the detailed testimony provided, and thoughtful questions from the committee members. Having a venue to discuss this important topic will lead to more pragmatic and critical conversations. We look forward to gathering and disseminating accurate and pertinent information to local officials, citizens, and all stakeholders.

Watch the meeting here on the Ohio Channel: https://ohiochannel.org/programs/ohio-house-and-senate-select-committees-on-data-centers-5-27-2026

On Memorial Day, we pause to honor the many who gave their lives defending our freedom over the last 250 years. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

The names of the Ohio aircrew lost in operation Epic Fury are honored on Ohio’s flagship KC135 air refueling stratotanker.

Thank you to all who served.

Yesterday, I toured the AEP Ohio New Albany Transmission Control Center and a nearby substation. I appreciated the detailed technical discussions, commitment to reliability, and strong emphasis on safety. Conversations about emerging technology and maintaining infrastructure integrity are essential to building a more resilient power grid.

On Wednesday, I joined State Representative Adam Holmes to announce the launch of the Ohio Joint Data Center Committee. This fact finding endeavor will provide Ohio citizens accurate, relevant, and usable information regarding the economic, environmental, and security impacts of data center development across our state.

Ohio is seeing rapid growth in data center development, and with that growth comes important questions about energy demand, land use, water resources, noise concerns, and the long term impact on our communities.

Through discussions with stakeholders, interested parties, and local communities, this committee will provide local officials and Ohioans with accurate, reliable information. I look forward to the stakeholder discussions, public input, and fact based analysis.

Watch the full Press Conference on The Ohio Channel here: https://ohiochannel.org/programs/press-conference-5-13-2026-announcing-data-center-legislation

It was a privilege to present K9-Sooga with a recognition of his first, and subsequent seven additional, successful tracks. Sooga is a highly trained bloodhound who has consistently demonstrated the ability to track specific individuals through any conditions and situations.

It is always informative to be with fellow regional legislators at the Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Legislative Luncheon. Rep. Troy Balderson, State Senator Al Landis, State Representative Adam Holmes, and State Representative Ty Moore are a true powerhouse of knowledge. Energy was a primary topic for the large crowd in Guernsey county.

I recently had the opportunity to tour the Guernsey Power Station in Byesville, Ohio alongside State Senator Al Landis and Kevin Tatulyan from the U.S. Department of Energy.

This modern gas-fired facility, made up of three units and connected to the Rockies Express Pipeline, began operating in 2023 and has the capacity to power approximately 1.4 million homes.

It is impressive to see such advanced, state-of-the-art energy infrastructure here in Ohio. Facilities like this are helping set a strong standard for reliability and efficiency in future power generation.

Thank you to the team at the plant and to Talen Energy for hosting a thorough and engaging tour.

I was delighted to check back in on the Sycamore Center and receive an update on existing and newly developed programs they offer to children in the community. The initiative and participation seem to be stronger than ever and are truly a bright spot in the lives of many youths in the area.

Additionally, I was able to tour and get insight into the AIM Center, a women’s pregnancy center. They do incredibly important work and have such a positive impact on the lives of many.

A recent tour of a Diversified Energy production site with five Utica formation wells was informative. Diversified has progressed significantly in size, scope, and business model since the inception of the company and has grown as a major producer of natural gas and oil. Commitment to safety and the environment were major themes of the tour. I also appreciated the insightful comments on the responsible plugging of non-producing wells.