Ohio Poll Shows Strong Support for Data Center Moratorium
A recent poll in Ohio indicates strong voter skepticism toward data centers, with majorities concerned about their impact on energy costs and the environment, and favoring a construction moratorium. This widespread public opposition is influencing statewide political candidates. A petition drive is also underway to put a ban on large data centers on the November ballot.
Ohio voters are exhibiting significant opposition to data center construction, according to a recent BGSU/YouGov Poll of 1,000 Ohio registered voters conducted from April 7-14. The survey reveals that a large majority of Ohioans are skeptical of data centers' repercussions, with 80% believing they are "mostly bad" for home energy costs, 76% for the environment, and 73% for quality of life nearby. Across the political spectrum, including 77% of Democrats, 68% of Independents, and 67% of Republicans, there is widespread support for a moratorium on data center construction.
This voter sentiment creates a challenging landscape for statewide political candidates. Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican nominee for Ohio governor, supports data center development, advocating a "drill baby, drill" strategy for power. His Democratic opponent, Dr. Amy Acton, maintains a more cautious stance, emphasizing that data centers must benefit Ohioans. In the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Sherrod Brown has remained non-committal, while Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, who previously supported data center construction as Lieutenant Governor, has not definitively stated his current position on the boom.
Amidst this political dynamic, Governor Mike DeWine has already enacted a moratorium on state sales tax breaks for data centers. Furthermore, public action is escalating with a petition drive underway to place a ban on large data centers on the November ballot. The article suggests that candidates will likely face increasing pressure to address the strong and bipartisan opposition to data centers across the state.