State Level Climate Security: Ohio

Ohio is experiencing an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme precipitation, flooding, heat, and drought, with natural disaster costs reaching $2 to $5 billion in the first half of 2026. These hazards are compounded by aging infrastructure, including high-hazard dams and levees, and a legacy of industrial pollution from Superfund sites. The state's energy grid is under strain from extreme heat and surging demand from over 200 data centers, while state policy continues to favor fossil fuels and obstruct renewable energy development. Key military assets, such as Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, face significant flood and wildfire risks. While Ohio lacks a comprehensive statewide climate governance framework, some progress has been made through municipal adaptation plans and significant support from federal agencies like NOAA, FEMA, and the EPA.

• Ohio has seen a dramatic increase in the economic cost of natural disasters, with damages between January and June 2026 totaling $2 to $5 billion, which is approximately ten times the state's usual average for that period.
• Precipitation patterns are shifting toward higher intensity; hourly rainfall in the Ohio River Valley rose by 15% on average from 1970 to 2024, and extreme rainstorms (over 2 inches per event) have increased by 30% since the late 1990s.
• Critical infrastructure is deteriorating and under-funded, with a $16 billion shortfall in drinking water and stormwater systems over the next 20 years and an estimated $3.47 billion needed for full rehabilitation of the state's dams.
• The state's energy grid is facing dual pressures from extreme heat and the rapid expansion of data centers, with Ohio hosting more than 200 such facilities. This has led to significant costs being passed to residential ratepayers, including an estimated $9.3 billion in electricity costs between June 2025 and June 2026.
• Ohio's energy policy prioritizes fossil fuels over renewables; state lawmakers have blocked over 5.3 gigawatts of renewable energy development in the last 12 years, and the state has rejected more regulated wind and solar projects than any of 19 studied states since Senate Bill 52 (2021).
• Major military installations in Ohio are vulnerable to climate risks; Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is identified as a priority installation facing wildfire risk, and between 50% and 75% of its area is located within a designated flood zone.
• Ohio lacks a formalized statewide climate governance framework or independent climate plan, though it developed the Ohio Priority Resilience Plan in March 2024 under a federal grant program.

APA

The Council on Strategic Risks (2026). State Level Climate Security: Ohio. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2026/09/18/state-level-climate-security-ohio/

Chicago

The Council on Strategic Risks. State Level Climate Security: Ohio. 2026. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2026/09/18/state-level-climate-security-ohio/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=The Council on Strategic Risks |title=State Level Climate Security: Ohio |date=18 September 2026 |url=https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2026/09/18/state-level-climate-security-ohio/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{thecouncilonstrategicrisks2026state, author = {{The Council on Strategic Risks}}, title = {{State Level Climate Security: Ohio}}, institution = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, year = {2026}, month = sep, url = {https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2026/09/18/state-level-climate-security-ohio/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }