COLUMBUS — Modernizing the power grid is necessary to ensure enough energy is generated to keep up with the demands of data centers, advanced manufacturing, and other growing sectors of the economy, said U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R., Bowling Green).

“The grid is not set up now to handle this much load,” Mr. Latta said Monday during an energy panel discussion at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce headquarters in downtown Columbus.

The solution to the problem is challenging for a number of reasons, including that certain types of energy generation are going offline at the same time the country’s energy needs are beginning to skyrocket, he said, pointing to the retirement of coal-fired power plants.

“We have about 106 gigawatts of power that’s being estimated to go offline,” Mr. Latta said. “At the s

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