Eighty years ago, Piketon, Ohio, stood at the center of a defining national challenge. The uranium enrichment facility on that site helped secure American victory in World War II. Last month, I sat in that same community and listened to SoftBank leaders outline a new era of investment in southern Ohio.

We are in a race for global leadership in artificial intelligence, one with significant national security implications. China is investing aggressively to dominate this space. The United States must meet that challenge head-on, and the infrastructure that makes AI possible — data centers — must be built domestically.

That is why the recent announcement in Piketon matters so much. A new natural gas-powered energy facility paired with a major data center investment represents more than just economic development. It is a strategic asset for Ohio and for the country. The presence of U.S. Cabinet secretaries at the announcement underscored that reality: This is not just a local project; it is part of a broader national imperative.

The message was clear: Ohio has a real opportunity to lead in the infrastructure that will power the next generation of innovation.

AI is not a distant concept — it is here, and it is rapidly reshaping industries, economies and national security strategies. Yes, they require energy, infrastructure and thoughtful policy, but they also bring jobs, investment and long-term competitiveness.

When Anduril announced it was coming to Columbus, founder Palmer Luckey was direct about one of the primary reasons: the strong presence of data centers in the region. That gravitational pull — where one investment attracts the next — is how regions build lasting economic strength. If we miss the first wave, we risk missing the ones that will certainly follow.

That does not mean development should come without accountability. It is reasonable and important to ensure that large-scale users pay their own way and infrastructure investments are done responsibly. But rejecting these opportunities outright, or allowing fear to dictate policy, would be a profound misstep.

That is why I commend state Rep. Adam Holmes, R-Nashport, and state Sen. Brian Chavez, R-Marietta, for their leadership in establishing a bipartisan, joint legislative committee on data centers in the Ohio General Assembly. The goal is not to dismiss legitimate concerns, but instead answer them with real policy rather than a blunt prohibition.

Ohioans should expect these developments to work for their communities and their families, not just for investors. That is a reasonable standard, and it is one Ohio’s General Assembly is capable of meeting.

None of that is at odds with growth. Quite frankly, it is what makes growth sustainable and earns the public trust that large-scale investment requires.

At the end of the day, Ohio is well-positioned to lead in this space. We have a strong energy portfolio, a skilled workforce and a central geographic location that makes us attractive for large-scale investment.

What is not a solution is any effort to ban data center construction in Ohio. A prohibition is not a community safeguard — it is a complete and total surrender.

China is not surrendering. It is building aggressively and with clear strategic intent. Ohio cannot pull back from the infrastructure that will define national security and economic leadership for decades to come.

The investment in Piketon is a beginning, not a finish line. The region will benefit. The state will be stronger. And if we get this right, Ohio will once again be at the heart of a fight America cannot afford to lose.

Pat Tiberi is president and CEO of Ohio Business Roundtable.