Gas power plant to support datacenter in Licking County

The demand for electricity in Central Ohio is skyrocketing, fueled by the rapid expansion of datacenters in the region. 

To meet this growing need, EdgeConneX, a Virginia-based global company, has announced plans to construct a gas-fired power plant in Western Licking County. 

The power plant will supply electricity to its new datacenter planned for the New Albany International Business Park, one of several datacenters operating or proposed in the area.

EdeConneX has notified the Ohio Power Siting Board and local stakeholders that its affiliate, PowerConneX Inc., plans to apply for state permits to construct a 120-megawatt power plant. 

Industry estimates suggest the facility, set to occupy 48.6 acres northwest of Ohio 161 and Mink Street, has the capacity to produce enough electricity to power approximately 120,000 homes each year. 

According to its website, EdgeConneX has developed over 80 datacenters in more than 50 markets worldwide. 

While the project is still in the planning stage, Columbus/Central Ohio Executive Secretary-Treasurer Dorsey Hager is confident it will create jobs for members of the building trades. 

“Hopefully, this will be the first of many gas-powered plants constructed here in Central Ohio,” Hager said. “Our energy needs continue to increase and we need to produce more electricity to support the datacenter market.” 

EdgeConneX’s first Ohio project 

The company reports it has developed or plans to develop 28 datacenters across North America, with the proposed New Albany site being its first project in Ohio. 

According to a public notice, the New Albany facility will be built to provide power using natural gas-fired equipment, which will serve as the primary source of electricity on the same site. 

Construction is scheduled to begin as early as the fourth quarter of 2025, with commercial operations expected by the first quarter of 2026. 

This timeline underscores the urgency of addressing Central Ohio’s growing energy demands, as the region’s number of datacenters has grown from one in 2017 to 105 today. 

American Electric Power officials predict that electricity demand will double in the coming years. To mitigate the impact on residential and small commercial customers, AEP has proposed tariffs for its largest customers.