A big week for 43040 as Chick-Fil-A opens | Site prep is underway for Water & Light | Data center scrutiny builds at state, township, city level

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has certified the title and summary for a proposed constitutional amendment titled “Prohibition of Construction of a Data Center,” clearing an early hurdle for a statewide ban on data centers. This amendment would define data centers as facilities with power demands exceeding 25 megawatts. Supporters of the proposal must now collect signatures from 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, meeting minimum thresholds in at least 44 counties, to place the measure on a future statewide ballot. This initiative underscores growing concerns across Ohio, including Union County, regarding the impact of data center development on land use and energy demand. At the local level, the Marysville Planning Commission is slated to consider updates to its zoning language concerning data centers at its April meeting. The objective is to establish clear rules for large data facilities while ensuring small, private data centers for local companies are not inadvertently restricted. In parallel, Taylor Township and Union Township in Union County are also taking steps to define how data centers and emerging energy uses, such as small off-site battery energy storage systems, will fit into their respective zoning codes. Both townships have scheduled public hearings in April to discuss these proposed amendments, which will also update the definition of “Public Service Facility.” These collective efforts reflect a countywide movement by local jurisdictions to clarify regulations for data centers and related infrastructure before new projects are proposed.