EdgeConneX Proposes Major 430MW Gas Plant to Power Expanding Ohio Data Center Hub
April 14, 2026
PowerConneX, the power solutions affiliate of data center developer EdgeConneX, has filed plans for a substantial 430-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant in New Albany, Ohio, marking a significant step in securing dedicated, on-site generation for its growing campus. The move underscores the intensifying demand for power in key data center markets and the industry's increasing turn to behind-the-meter solutions to ensure reliable and expedited capacity for large-scale facilities.
According to a pre-application notification letter submitted to the Ohio Power Siting Board, the proposed facility would be constructed on a 30-acre plot adjacent to EdgeConneX's planned data center development. If approved, construction could begin as early as next year, with commercial operations targeted for the fourth quarter of 2027. This would be the third such plant proposed for the site, following earlier filings for a 120MW plant and a 216MW facility.
The power infrastructure is critical for EdgeConneX's ambitious build-out on the 270-acre property it acquired last year for $137.2 million. The company plans to develop over 1.2 million square feet of data center space across multiple buildings. The initial phase involves converting an existing 524,525-square-foot warehouse into a data center, with completion expected in April 2026. A subsequent phase will add a new 700,000-square-foot data center building and an 80,000-square-foot energy center, targeting substantial completion by Q3 2027.
The proliferation of on-site generation plans in New Albany highlights a strategic shift among data center operators facing grid constraints and lengthy interconnection queues. "New Albany is becoming a hotbed of data center activity, with many operators looking towards on-site generation as a means to expedite their route to market," industry reports note. This trend was exemplified last June when a 200MW natural gas plant to power a Meta data center in the same area received approval. EdgeConneX's latest and largest proposal signals a deepening commitment to this model, aiming to lock in the massive power required for future high-density computing, particularly for artificial intelligence workloads, while mitigating reliance on the public grid.
Source: datacenterdynamics
