Ohio Democrats call for more transparency surrounding Intel project

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- After continued construction delays and market uncertainty, some Ohio Democrats are casting doubt on Intel's Ohio One project -- and calling for increased accountability.

"They will never finish what they're doing," state Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) said. "They will not create one permanent job at Intel because they got all these tax breaks. And I don't know if the state has money to recoup that money back or not."

State Reps. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna) and Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) announced Thursday they are introducing a House resolution to provide public updates on Intel's $28 billion manufacturing project. The resolution asks the governor's office, the Department of Development, and JobsOhio to release quarterly updates about Intel's progress, starting this fall. See previous coverage of Intel in the video player above.

The resolution asks for updates on construction, financial disclosures and strategic changes Intel may be considering. Intel submits an annual report to the Department of Development as part of its Job Creation Tax Credit and Onshoring Grant, due each March 1. It also provides quarterly financial updates under its Water Reclamation Grant. Dan Tierney, Gov. Mike DeWine's press secretary, said Intel filed its most recent fiscal update on July 9.

The resolution comes amid reports that President Donald Trump is considering having the U.S. government take a stake in Intel to help Ohio's plant. According to Bloomberg, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan and Trump are considering a deal after the pair met at the White House on Monday.

Originally scheduled to open this year, Intel's project is the largest economic deal in Ohio's history. Both Ohio and the federal government offered tax breaks, grants and incentives to help Intel build chips in Licking County. With Intel announcing it will slow construction further and an adjusted completion date into 2032, Brown Piccolantonio and Brennan said they want reassurance that the state incentives are not being taken advantage of.

“Intel’s plans for Ohio have gone from high-tech hope to high-stakes uncertainty,” Brennan said. “Our state made the largest financial commitment in its history to bring this project here. It’s only right that the people of Ohio know where their money is going — and what their return on investment will be."

Tierney said that since the project was announced in 2022, the state has paid $718 million directly to Intel. He said Ohio has seen a "significant return on investment" already, as Intel has invested about $7 billion into the Ohio One facility. If Intel does not meet its commitments, Tierney said the state's incentives could be clawed back in January 2029 through contract agreements that allow Ohio to recoup its money.

Intel's required annual report includes how much money Intel and Ohio have invested, updates on construction and employment, and a list of top Ohio suppliers. In 2024's report, Intel said it had 163 Intel Ohio One employees and invested about $2.3 billion in that year's construction.

The annual report does not include Intel's strategic changes or larger financial well-being, which the House resolution asks for. All reports are public record, but only the 2023 annual report has been publicized by the governor's office. Tierney said the governor's office is providing Brown Piccolantonio and Brennan with the most recent reports.

Because the push for public reporting comes as a House resolution, it will ask, rather than require, the state to provide those reports. A resolution is a formal expression of the General Assembly's opinion or wishes when the topic does not warrant a bill.

Resolutions still need to be passed by the House and Senate, but are not law and do not need the governor's signature. Ohio's legislature is on summer break, so it's unlikely the resolution would see action before legislators return in October.