In the heart of Ohio, a town that has become synonymous with the burgeoning data center industry is on the cusp of a significant energy transformation. New Albany, home to the New Albany International Business Park, is set to host multiple new natural gas-fired power plants, a move that could redefine the energy landscape of the region and set a precedent for data center hubs nationwide.
The announcement comes as no surprise to those familiar with the insatiable appetite of data centers for reliable and abundant power. Three projects have been publicly identified: the PowerConneX New Albany Energy Center, and the Socrates North and South Power Generation Facility Projects. EdgeConneX, the Virginia-based company behind the PowerConneX project, has ambitious plans. Their proposed facility aims to deliver up to 120 MW of generation capacity, serving as the primary power source for a colocated data center. This is not EdgeConneX’s first rodeo; the company boasts a portfolio of over 80 data centers across more than 50 markets worldwide. However, this would be their inaugural project in Ohio, adding to their impressive tally of 28 data centers in North America.
The implications of this development are far-reaching. For starters, it eases the pressure on local utility AEP, which would otherwise be responsible for the infrastructure to serve the complex. This shift could pave the way for other corporate entities to consider similar natural gas-fired power projects, further diversifying the region’s energy mix.
The timing of this announcement is particularly noteworthy. The central Ohio region is already home to at least 105 data centers, according to government data. With the growing demand for electricity from artificial intelligence and data centers, the need for reliable power generation is more pressing than ever. Alan Armstrong, CEO of Williams, the company behind the Socrates projects, echoed this sentiment in a recent interview. “A tremendous amount of demand has been building up,” he noted, highlighting the increasing interest in behind-the-meter power generation.
The Socrates projects, each with a generation capacity of 200 MW, are slated to come online in the second half of 2026. This aligns with the expected commercial operation date of the PowerConneX facility, suggesting a coordinated effort to meet the region’s growing energy needs.
But what does this mean for the broader energy sector? For one, it underscores the need for innovative solutions to meet the unique demands of data centers. It also raises questions about the role of natural gas in the energy transition, particularly in regions where renewable energy sources may not yet be able to meet the base load requirements.
Moreover, this development could spark a debate about the future of energy infrastructure. As more companies look to bypass traditional utility grids, will we see a shift towards decentralized power generation? And if so, what role will natural gas play in this new energy landscape?
The answers to these questions are far from clear, but one thing is certain: the energy sector is on the cusp of significant change. As New Albany prepares to welcome these new power plants, the rest of the industry will be watching closely, eager to see how this story unfolds.
