Ohio Ballot Board unanimously OKs petition drive for large data center ban amendment

https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/ohio-ballot-board-unanimously-approves-petition-drive-data-center-ban-constitutional-amendment-new-albany-dublin-hilliard-columbus The Ohio Ballot Board unanimously voted in support of giving petitioners the go-ahead to collect signatures on a new proposed amendment to potentially ban the construction of new data centers. The board determined that the proposal contains one proposed amendment. This citizen-driven initiative would be a blanket ban on the construction of any new data center that uses more than 25 megawatts of electricity per month. Energy experts estimate that one large data center uses as much energy as 20,000-25,000 residential homes. Citizens from Southern Ohio, who came to Thursday's hearing at the statehouse, said this is a huge win. "It's a direct channel for the people of Ohio to make their voice heard, to make their decisions heard," Austin Baurichter, an attorney and co-author of the petition, said. "It's the most impactful way for us human beings to govern the future of our state and our destiny in the state." Central Ohio has seen a data center boom, including Amazon investing billions and expanding in places such as New Albany, Dublin, and Hilliard. Some proponents raised concerns about environmental impacts, particularly energy demand and water usage. "Your electric rates go up. The farmland is getting bought out," Andrew Gula, who is on the committee for the petition, said. "Property taxes are going up because of the inflated property values. Everyone is going to see an impact because of this." Proponents for the amendment said they do not want the large-scale developments in their backyards. "Because in the local communities we've been taken advantage of by our local politicians," Emily Harper said. "It's been cloaked into secrecy, and that's something you just can't do to a community because we're people, and we matter. And so does our home." Others argue the proposed amendment could close Ohio off from future investments and economic opportunities. "As long as we're going to use our cell phones, A.I., laptops, desktops and iPads -- somebody's got to process that, and we'd like those jobs and opportunity to be right here in Ohio," Steve Stivers, president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, said. According to a report on the economic impact of data centers in Ohio, the state's chamber of commerce said Ohio's data center industry supports more than 95,000 jobs across the state and contributed an estimated $11.8B to Ohio's GDP in 2024. This report also said the industry contributed nearly $7B in wages and income for Ohio families that same year. The Chamber predicts the industry could support over 132,000 Ohio jobs by 2030. Stivers said the chamber has a history of opposing amending the Constitution. "I think Ohioans understand the constitution should be about principles and big issues, not details like do we have data centers? That belongs in state law," he said. "If it passed, not only would its signal were closed for business, it would enshrine that we're closed for business in our constitution, and then the question will just be what industry is next?" Petitioners have until July to collect more than 400,000 signatures total from at least half of the state’s counties to place the measure on the November ballot. Those signatures must equal at least 5% of the vote cast in the most recent gubernatorial election for each of those counties. Some say the task is ambitious, but worry it isn't likely. "Well, I bet my mortgage that there's no way they get enough signatures by July 1st," state Senator Bill Demora of District 25 in Columbus said. "As the petition person for the Democratic Party for 20 years, the Democratic Party as a whole could not get 422,000 valid signatures by July 1st, when today is April 2nd. A regular citizen group just can't do that. It's not sophisticated enough. However, these petitioners said they're confident they can get the job done. _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: WSYX on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WSYXABC6 WSYX on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wsyx6 WSYX on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wsyx6/ Subscribe to WSYX on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6HHWRGuLD11spg9DxKAZlQ//?sub_confirmation=1 Daily News Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVJHjLYVOrAgtGirvHOL3kyw3nSkjE33o For more information, visit https://abc6onyourside.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: news@wsyx6.com Call the Newsroom: 614.481.6659 WSYX and WTTE are OH based stations owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. #WSYX #ABC6 #News #WSYX6 #6OnYourSide