Ohio Supreme Court rules Trenton must allow vote on data center ban
The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that Trenton must allow its residents to vote on a proposed ban of large-scale data centers. This decision overturns the city council's earlier rejection of a petition, which claimed an insufficient number of signatures despite state law requirements being met. The ruling is a win for local residents opposing data center projects.
The Ohio Supreme Court has ordered the city of Trenton, Ohio, to allow residents to vote on a proposed ban of large-scale data centers. This decision comes after the Trenton City Council rejected a petition from the Woodsdale and Trenton Environmental Resistance group, which sought a charter amendment to prohibit data centers over 25 megawatts.
Residents, including Barry Blankenship, had gathered 336 valid signatures, exceeding the 128 required by state law. However, the city council claimed 820 signatures were needed based on the city charter's interpretation of registered voters. The Ohio Supreme Court found the city council's refusal to certify the petition improper and that it "disregarded applicable law," ordering the city to certify the petition and send it to the Butler County Board of Elections.
Blankenship expressed emotional relief and hope that the vote will allow residents' voices to be heard on data center development in their community. The timing of the vote, whether on the November ballot or a special election, remains unclear. This ruling follows a similar order by the court last month, directing the village of Ashville to submit a residents' petition against a data center to the Pickaway County Board of Elections.