$33 Billion Natural Gas Power Plant Proposed for Southern Ohio, Could Power Half the State

A proposed $33 billion natural gas power facility in southern Ohio could generate approximately 9 gigawatts of power, enough to supply roughly half of the state’s energy needs, according to U.S. Senator Jon Husted. The project is anticipated to create thousands of jobs.

Project Details and Potential Impact

Senator Husted discussed the potential facility with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick approximately two weeks ago, receiving confirmation of the projected 9 gigawatt output as reported by The Dispatch. For context, all the homes in Columbus consume about 1 gigawatt of electricity.

Support for Ohio Manufacturers

This development comes as Senator Husted as well advocates for the reinstatement of federal funding for the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Ohio MEP). He, along with other members of the Ohio Congressional delegation, sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick urging him to lift the suspension of the Ohio MEP award, which was initially suspended in December as detailed in a press release from Senator Husted’s website.

The Ohio MEP is a public-private partnership that provides technical assistance, workforce development, and management training to small and mid-sized manufacturers. According to a December 11, 2025 letter from Senator Husted to Secretary Lutnick, 90% of job growth in Ohio is concentrated among these smaller manufacturers as outlined in a PDF document on Senator Husted’s website, making the MEP’s support crucial.

Recent Scrutiny of Senator Husted

Senator Husted has recently faced scrutiny regarding campaign donations. A report by New Republic indicates he received $3,500 from Les Wexner, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein, before voting against releasing Department of Justice files related to Epstein as reported by New Republic. He has received over $116,000 from Wexner since 2001.