Ohio voters weigh data center ban

Conserve Ohio is preparing to put a statewide ban on large-scale data centers before voters in 2027. The grassroots group is currently collecting signatures for a petition to amend the state constitution. Simultaneously, the organization is driving ballot initiatives in 10 communities that would amend local charters to prohibit the construction of hyperscale facilities used for artificial intelligence.

The movement originated in Mt. Orab, a village of 4,300 people in a rural exurb of Cincinnati. Local attorney Nick Owens discovered that 1,000 acres of farmland and trees were sold to a data center developer in 2024 and 2025. Property records show the new development runs adjacent to two-story homes. Owens, a lifelong Republican, spent hours trying to identify the developer, but nondisclosure agreements blocked his access to information.

Owens joined forces with another local attorney and a real estate agent. Together, they organized volunteers across nearly all 88 counties in Ohio. The group includes Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. Owens describes the coalition as sharing a passion for preserving the state's way of life from what he calls a hyperscale data center invasion.

Tech companies have operated in Ohio for more than a decade, drawn by inexpensive land, energy infrastructure, and tax breaks. This setup fueled some of the fastest data center growth in the country. While these projects generate tax revenue, school funding, and construction jobs, many residents oppose the noise, emissions, and secrecy involved in their construction.

The issue has become a focal point in the upcoming midterm elections. Former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown has labeled incumbent Republican Senator Jon Husted as the face of data centers. Brown points to Husted's time as lieutenant governor, when he welcomed tech investments to the state. Husted has countered by accusing Brown of hypocrisy regarding his past support for the industry.

Husted is also promoting a bill in Congress that would require data centers to pay for power grid upgrades. Senate Democrats have blocked the measure, calling it toothless. Husted has accused the Democratic Party of not caring or helping.

Linda Moodie, an independent volunteer in the Cincinnati suburb of Fairfield, does not trust candidates to act correctly if elected. She plans to vote for Brown, citing his long-standing discussion of the issue. Moodie has been collecting petition signatures at local events, including a recent Halloween celebration where she distributed candy and clipboards to families.

The data center debate has affected political enthusiasm in rural areas. Owens, who served as a Trump delegate at the 2024 Republican National Convention, notes that campaign signs are scarce in Mt. Orab. The county voted 80% for President Trump in 2024. Owens believes the enthusiasm gap for Republicans in rural areas will be more pronounced than for Democrats in cities. President Trump has called for data centers to let data reign, a stance Owens describes as tone deaf. Construction at the Mt. Orab site has not yet begun, and the start date remains unclear.