U.S. Sen. Moreno Opposes Ohio EPA's Data Center Wastewater Permit Changes

The proposed general permit would allow data centers to discharge wastewater into Ohio's waterways, including Lake Erie.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno has voiced opposition to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's (Ohio EPA) proposal to change wastewater regulations for data centers. The Ohio EPA wants to issue a general discharge permit for data centers instead of site-specific permits, which state lawmakers argue would lead to the degradation of water quality in Ohio's rivers, streams, and Lake Erie.

Why it matters

The debate over the data center wastewater regulations highlights the tension between economic development and environmental protection. While the Ohio EPA claims the changes would create more administrative efficiency, critics argue it would weaken oversight and allow data centers to discharge polluted water into sensitive waterways like Lake Erie.

The details

The proposed general permit would allow data centers to discharge water used for cooling and other processes into Ohio's waterways. This includes discharges into Lake Erie, which would not receive the same site-specific protections afforded to other high-quality water bodies. State representatives have expressed concerns that the discharges could warm rivers and streams, harming local ecosystems.

  • On February 27, 2026, U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno publicly opposed the Ohio EPA's proposed changes.
  • In the weeks prior, two state lawmakers from northern Ohio had also voiced their opposition to the general permit proposal.

The players

Bernie Moreno

A U.S. Senator who opposes the Ohio EPA's attempt to change data center wastewater regulations.

David Thomas

A Republican state representative from Ashtabula, Ohio who believes the Ohio EPA is seeking the changes to accommodate the wishes of former President Donald Trump.

Kellie Deeter

A Republican state representative from Huron County, Ohio who argues the general permit would degrade water resources and reduce transparency in the review process.

John Logue

The director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA)

The state agency proposing to change data center wastewater regulations by issuing a general discharge permit instead of site-specific permits.

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What they’re saying

“Ohio should not compromise the integrity of our waterways to help data centers. The companies putting these centers up have so much money we expect the water going back into our rivers to be cleaner than ever before!”

— Bernie Moreno, U.S. Senator (X)

“The draft general permit creates more administrative efficiency while continuing to hold companies to the highest standards. This does not weaken environmental protection, and the draft permit is protective of human health and the environment.”

— Ohio EPA (cleveland.com)

“The people I represent deserve a process that protects water resources first and ensures transparent, locally relevant review, not a blanket permitting structure that anticipates degradation and reduces the practical visibility of individual authorizations.”

— Kellie Deeter, Ohio State Representative (Public comments to Ohio EPA)

“Ohio EPA should decline to finalize this general permit. The draft explicitly acknowledges that permit coverage would result in a lowering of water quality and, further, it structurally excludes Lake Erie from protections afforded to other high-quality waters and lakes.”

— David Thomas, Ohio State Representative (Letter to Ohio EPA Director)

What’s next

The Ohio EPA is expected to make a final decision on the proposed general permit for data center wastewater discharges in the coming months.

The takeaway

This debate highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing economic development and environmental protection. While the Ohio EPA claims the general permit would create more efficiency, critics argue it would weaken oversight and allow data centers to degrade sensitive waterways like Lake Erie.