Local 8 Speaks Before Ohio Legislature on Data Centers and Union Jobs
IBEW Local 8
· 4 min read
IBEW Local 8 Political Director Evan Morrison recently testified before the Ohio House and Senate Select Committees on Data Centers, making the case that Ohio’s data center construction boom must benefit working people, local communities and the union tradespeople who are building and maintaining these facilities.
Ohio is one of the top states in the country for data center development, with over 230 facilities already built, under construction or approved — and more on the way. This is creating tens of thousands of jobs for members of building trades unions across Ohio, including IBEW Local 8.
However, some Ohio residents have developed a “not in my backyard” mentality and have spread misinformation about data centers. These unsubstantiated claims may be preventing data centers from being built in the Buckeye State, resulting in the loss of future jobs, tax dollars and other community benefits. Media outlets throughout Ohio have reported instances of NIMBY-ism over the past six months, leading to larger-than-normal crowds packing planning commission, city council and township trustee meetings to block proposed data center campuses.
In response, Ohio lawmakers announced the creation of the Ohio Joint Data Center Committee to study these facilities and their impact on the state. The bipartisan committee — six Republicans and two Democrats from the House and Senate, co-chaired by State Sen. Brian Chavez and State Rep. Adam Holmes — was designed to ensure Ohio citizens have accurate, relevant information concerning the economic, environmental and security impacts of data centers. Members sought testimony from a wide range of voices: industry representatives, state agencies, labor unions and community stakeholders. That is what brought Morrison to the table — to make sure the voice of Northwest Ohio electrical workers was heard loud and clear.
Data Centers Are Already Putting Our Members to Work
Morrison opened by discussing the present reality for Local 8 members. Hundreds of Brothers and Sisters in the Local 8 jurisdiction are currently working on data center projects, and many more Ohio workers across all building trades are earning a living because of this growing industry. He pushed back against the notion that data centers are simply temporary construction projects.
“Data centers are not built and abandoned-in-place at the end of their useful life. These sites are connected to extremely valuable infrastructure: power transmission, substations, fiber, gas pipelines and water systems. Because of that investment, these facilities undergo maintenance, upgrades, refits and modernization over decades.”
Think Big — Infrastructure on a Historic Scale
He urged lawmakers to view data centers through the same lens as the defining infrastructure investments of American history — the federal highway system, the Apollo space missions, the auto industry and nuclear power. Each faced skepticism in its time, yet America stepped forward. He drew a direct comparison to nuclear power plants, which may operate with a permanent workforce of a few hundred but can be joined by over a thousand union workers onsite during refueling, modernization and refit cycles.
The economic ripple effects extend beyond the jobsite. Many of the infrastructure upgrades required to support data centers — roads, substations, transmission capacity and utility improvements — strengthen the surrounding communities long after construction ends.
Growth Must Be Responsible
While Morrison made a strong case for embracing data center development, he was equally clear that growth must come with accountability. The IBEW supports clear standards on energy usage, water consumption, noise, lighting, zoning, long-term community impact and fair-share energy pricing. Local hiring requirements, registered apprenticeship requirements, Project Labor Agreements and reliability standards are not optional extras — they are the conditions that ensure the benefits of this development stay in Ohio and reach the working people who make it possible.
Training the Workforce of the Next Generation
Morrison closed by pointing to the future. IBEW Local 8 and its Registered Apprenticeship Program are ready to grow to meet the demands of this industry by training more wiremen in Northwest Ohio — linking one project coming to an end to the next breaking ground.
“These are careers that allow working people to live the lives they want to live — buy homes, raise children, support local businesses and retire with dignity through family-sustaining union wages, healthcare and retirement benefits.”
Since 1891, the IBEW has been part of every major advancement in American industry. Data centers are the next chapter, and Local 8 intends to be at the center of it.
Our Position Is Clear
IBEW Local 8’s message to Ohio lawmakers was straightforward: support reliable infrastructure, responsible regulation, local hiring, apprenticeship training and family-supporting union careers. Data center development can strengthen both Ohio’s economy and the lives of working families across the state. Will Ohio compete for major industrial investment? Will Ohio ensure the benefits reach working people and local communities? Local 8 is committed to making sure the answer to both questions is yes.
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