Ohio Supreme Court orders Trenton to place data center ban initiative on ballot
The Ohio Supreme Court has unanimously ordered Trenton, Ohio, to place a citizen-led initiative to ban data centers on the ballot. This ruling overturns the Trenton City Council's previous rejection of the petition based on an incorrect signature count, affirming the state's constitutional requirement. Voters will now decide on a measure that could impact existing data center developments in the city.
The Ohio Supreme Court has issued a unanimous order compelling the city of Trenton to place a citizen-led ballot initiative, seeking to ban data centers, before voters. This decision resolves a dispute stemming from a group of residents who gathered signatures to halt data center development in the city, an effort previously deemed insufficient by the Trenton City Council.
At the core of the legal challenge was the method for calculating the required signature threshold. Trenton's local measure demanded signatures from 10% of all eligible electors, while the Ohio Constitution mandates 10% of those who voted in the last city election, a significantly lower number. The Supreme Court sided with the citizens' group, led by Barry Blankenship, affirming that the state constitutional requirement takes precedence.
Blankenship expressed profound satisfaction with the ruling, emphasizing that it empowers the community to decide its future rather than having it dictated by city council members. He voiced concerns about potential delays from the city council but affirmed his group's readiness to pursue further legal action if necessary to ensure the measure proceeds to the ballot, confident that voters will approve the ban by a wide margin.
It remains uncertain what a successful ban would mean for a data center project already under construction in Trenton. This specific question may only be resolved through further legal proceedings should the initiative pass. The Trenton City Council is expected to address the Supreme Court's mandate at its upcoming meeting, needing to approve the measure and forward it to the county board of elections for ballot placement.