Statewide Petition to Limit Data Center Size Now Aiming for Next Year
A statewide petition effort in Ohio to amend the state constitution and limit the size of new data centers to under 25MW is ongoing, though the submission for the ballot has been delayed until fall 2027. The grassroots group "Conserve Ohio" is leading the effort, driven by concerns over transparency, water usage, and tax deals related to large data center projects.
Conserve Ohio, a grassroots organization, is spearheading a statewide petition in Ohio to amend the state constitution. The proposed amendment aims to limit the size of new data centers to a maximum of 25MW, a significant reduction from current proposals, some of which exceed 1000MW. Danielle Kinhalt, a volunteer for Conserve Ohio, highlighted concerns about a 1.3 gigawatt data center project near her Manchester home, specifically citing a lack of transparency from the Adams County Commissioners regarding such developments.
The group, which had a presence at the recent Serpent Mound "Summer Solstice Celebration" in Adams County, planned to submit the petition for a vote on this fall's ballot. However, they have now postponed the submission to April 2027, targeting the fall 2027 ballot. Despite the delay, Conserve Ohio remains committed, stating that the signatures gathered, currently over 85,000, do not expire. They aim to collect approximately 700,000 signatures to meet the state's requirement of 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, distributed across at least half of Ohio's 88 counties.
Conserve Ohio's mission is to empower Ohioans in decisions impacting land and resources, focusing on transparency and accountability. They criticize what they call "sweetheart deals" for corporations, arguing that massive data centers consume vast amounts of water and receive tax abatements, potentially leaving everyday citizens to bear the costs. While proponents of data centers emphasize their economic benefits, such as investment and job creation, and their potential for water recycling and self-generated power, Conserve Ohio suggests that Ohio's appeal to data centers stems from lax government policies rather than genuine need.