An affiliate of data center developer EdgeConneX has applied to build a natural gas-fired power plant in New Albany to feed a planned conversion of a roughly 525,000-square-foot warehouse into a data center. The plant would occupy about 48.6 acres and add yet another behind-the-meter power source to a stretch of Licking County already crowded with major data center projects. Local filings and company materials do not fully agree on when the converted building and the power plant are expected to go live.
According to an April 13, 2026 report in The Business Journals, the filing states that the proposed gas plant would support EdgeConneX’s conversion of the industrial building, with the revamped data center initially expected online in early 2027. That coverage cites company filings and local records that spell out the basic contours of the project.
As detailed on EdgeConneX, the PowerConneX New Albany Energy Center would sit on roughly 48.6 acres and provide up to 120 megawatts of behind-the-meter generation for an adjacent data center. The company’s project page also lists public information meetings and directs readers to the Ohio Power Siting Board docket associated with the case.
Industry reporting and city filings reviewed by Data Center Dynamics and local records show that EdgeConneX purchased the 524,525-square-foot building at 9850 Innovation Campus Way and plans to convert it as Phase I of a larger campus. Those records place initial Phase I completion in spring 2026 and describe Phase II - a new 700,000-square-foot building plus an energy center - as substantially complete by the third quarter of 2027.
Why New Albany Makes Sense for Data Centers
New Albany and western Licking County have quickly turned into a Midwest hot spot for hyperscale data centers, with local reporting tracking a steep rise in electricity demand tied to these massive facilities. The Reporting Project notes that central Ohio’s data center load has surged in recent years and cites utility testimony predicting that demand will keep climbing.
How the Plant Fits Into Other Local Projects
The EdgeConneX proposal is not arriving in a vacuum. Other developers have already lined up sizable behind-the-meter gas plants in the same general area. Williams’ Will-Power affiliate has advanced its Socrates North and Socrates South projects to serve neighboring data centers, reflecting a broader move toward pairing big server farms with dedicated on-site generation. Marcellus Drilling News and local coverage outline those projects and their expected timelines.
Public Meetings and Next Steps
Representatives for PowerConneX held public information meetings in February and March 2025 and indicated they would submit a formal application to the Ohio Power Siting Board. Public notices and project maps have been posted online. Additional outreach materials and municipal information are available from the city of New Albany, which directs residents to the OPSB docket for public comments and hearing dates. An EdgeConneX notice and City of New Albany materials provide maps and details on those meetings.
Regulatory and Environmental Notes
Under Ohio law, the Ohio Power Siting Board will review the application, determine whether it is complete and, if accepted, schedule public hearings along with an adjudicatory process under the OPSB docket. Ohio Power Siting Board filings and the related public meeting record are where residents can file comments or petitions to intervene.
The EdgeConneX filing adds to the evidence that central Ohio’s data center boom is pushing developers toward securing dedicated on-site power instead of waiting for large-scale grid upgrades, and neighbors and local officials are expected to track the OPSB docket and company outreach as the review moves forward. For the underlying company filing and additional local detail, see The Business Journals.
