Data center ban will go before voters after Ohio Supreme Court ruling
The Ohio Supreme Court has mandated a special election in Trenton, Ohio, allowing residents to vote on a proposed ban on large data centers. This ruling follows a year-long effort by local residents, who are concerned about potential impacts on the aquifer, environment, and electricity costs. If approved, the ban would prevent future data center construction and block plans for a second facility, though the status of a currently under-construction data center remains unclear.
The Ohio Supreme Court has compelled the city of Trenton, Ohio, to organize a special election, empowering residents to vote on the implementation of a ban on large data centers. This decision culminates over a year of advocacy by a local group named WATER (Woodsdale and Trenton Environmental Resistance), which has actively campaigned against data center development due to environmental and economic concerns.
Residents, including WATER volunteers Lorie Blankenship and Linda Rex, voiced fears regarding the depletion and contamination of the local aquifer, increased electricity costs, and potential negative impacts on property values. Approximately 300 residents signed a petition to bring the issue to a vote, although city officials, including Mayor Ryan Perry, initially disputed the validity of the signatures, arguing they fell short of the required number. City leaders, such as Council member Ray Nichols, have maintained that data centers would bring significant investment and economic benefits, particularly to local schools.
The dispute escalated to the Ohio Supreme Court, which ultimately sided with the petitioners, ordering the special election. If the ban passes, it would prevent the construction of future data centers and block plans for a second facility. The implications for a data center already under construction, which residents like Blankenship report is already causing traffic issues, are currently ambiguous. The city is now responsible for scheduling the election.