COLUMBUS, OH — Earlier today, gubernatorial candidate and data center investor  Vivek Ramaswamy released what he claimed was a major data center policy proposal via a post on X. The plan includes numerous serious issues and leaves out several important issues entirely:

1. The billion dollar hole in his plan: Ramaswamy’s plan makes no reference to the more than $1.5 billion data center sales tax exemption that Gov. DeWine paused. 

2. Big Tech secret deals can continue: Ramaswamy says nothing of the Non-Disclosure agreements the Big Tech companies behind data centers force local governments to sign. 

3. Doesn’t mention his own financial interests in data centers: As Innovation Ohio has previously documented, Ramaswamy’s investment portfolio includes every part of the data center supply chain: chip manufacturers, hardware suppliers, real estate developers, tech companies that operate the facilities, and more. If elected, will he look out for us, or his investments?

4. Ramaswamy wants to build a power plant in your backyard: His plan will require data centers to build massive power plants alongside their facilities – but makes no mention of if or how local communities will have a say over these power plants. Under Ramaswamy, local communities keep getting screwed. 

5. Texas businessman doesn’t understand Ohio government: The "benefit zone" plan to reduce electric bills that he describes would likely require PUCO rulemaking, PJM interconnection approval, and Federal Energy Regulator Commission jurisdiction over wholesale power transactions, and voluntary utility cooperation — none of which are within the governor's unilateral authority. But hey, it sounds cool. 

6. And he’s lying about not being pro-data center: “We’re seeing an AI data center boom, which is good” - Vivek Ramaswamy, March 2025

“Ramaswamy’s a con man who gets rich off data centers and is clearly scrambling to come up with a desperate policy proposal now that he’s losing,” said Innovation Ohio President Michael McGovern. “No one should take this seriously.” 

Earlier this week, Innovation Ohio released a report comparing the data center policies of Dr. Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy. Our previous reports looking at how data centers impact Ohio consumers and Ramaswamy’s financial interests can be found here:

Vivek Ramaswamy’s Data Center Portfolio

Report: Data Centers, Ohio’s Electric Grid, and Your Power Bill

The Power Plant Next Door