All Amped Up: Can Ohio Meet Its Future Energy Needs?

The Community's Conversation

Ohio’s energy demand is set to skyrocket with the rise of data centers, electric vehicles, and the shutdown of aging power plants. Can the state’s power generation keep pace, or will electricity shortages hinder Ohio’s growth? Major tech companies are establishing data centers in central Ohio, consuming a growing portion of the state’s power supply to support consumers and power-intensive technologies like AI. Additionally, the retirement of some fossil-fuel power plants and the unpredictability of renewable sources like wind and solar add further pressure to Ohio’s energy system. With industry leaders and experts, we explore the real “power play” essential for the state’s economic growth.

Featuring:

Ryan Augsburger, President, The Ohio Manufacturers' Association

Kenny McDonald, President & CEO, One Columbus

Janine Migden-Ostrander, Pace University Law School E nergy & Climate Center, and Former Ohio Consumers' Counsel

Todd Snitchler, President & CEO, Electric Power Supply Association

The host is Bryant Petway, Construction Executive, ArchKey Solutions

This forum was sponsored by The Columbus Region. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis.

This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on March 19, 2025.