OPSB Greenlights Williams-Backed Power Plant for Meta Data Center in Ohio

The Ohio Power Siting Board has approved construction of a 200 MW natural gas-fired power plant in New Albany, Ohio. The facility, backed by Williams Companies and serving a Meta-affiliated data center, will operate off-grid and be powered by future gas pipelines.

(Reuters) — The Socrates South Power Generation Project, a 200 megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired electric generation facility in the city of New Albany and Licking County, Ohio, has been approved for construction, the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) said on June 9.

The behind-the-meter project will serve the electric load of an adjacent data center, and not be physically connected to the electric grid, the board said.

The facility will be constructed and operated by Will-Power OH LLC, a subsidiary of the Williams Companies, while Sidecat LLC, an affiliate of Meta Platforms Inc. will consume the electric power generated.

"Natural gas supply for the generation facility will come from two 24-inch diameter gas pipelines that will be the subject of future applications with the OPSB," the board added.