After pushback, Ottawa voters approve 10-year moratorium on data centers
Ottawa voters approved a 10-year moratorium on data center development by more than 70% after residents organized against a proposed 450-megawatt facility near the city. Residents sued after city officials initially challenged whether the issue could appear on the ballot, and a court ruled that voters deserved to decide.
Ottawa, Kansas, voters approved a 10-year moratorium on data centers by more than 70% following months of opposition to a proposed 450-megawatt facility near the city. Resident Jessica Christopher helped organize a petition drive after concerns about the project’s proximity and potential impacts were not addressed.
City officials initially argued the petition involved an administrative matter and could not go before voters. Resident Michael Lewis and others sued, and a district court judge ruled that residents were entitled to have the issue placed on the ballot. The campaign also drew outside spending from Virginia-based Defend US PAC, which urged voters in Ottawa and other Kansas communities to reject data center restrictions.