Trenton to vote on data center ban after Ohio Supreme Court decision
The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled to allow a special election in Trenton, Ohio, for residents to vote on a proposed amendment to ban new data centers larger than 25 megawatts within city limits. This decision overturns the Trenton City Council's earlier rejection of the initiative, which was spearheaded by the Woodsdale and Trenton Environmental Resistance (WATER) group.
The Ohio Supreme Court has cleared the way for Trenton residents to vote on a proposed ban on new data centers exceeding 25 megawatts. This decision, announced Tuesday, stems from an initiative by the Woodsdale and Trenton Environmental Resistance (WATER) group, which gathered 336 signatures to place a city charter amendment on the ballot.
Initially, the Trenton City Council rejected WATER's initiative, citing a requirement for approximately 820 signatures. This led to a legal debate over whether the signature threshold should be based on registered voters or ballots cast in the last municipal election. Following the city council's rejection, WATER took its case to the Ohio Supreme Court.
The Butler County Board of Elections, advised by the Butler County Prosecutor's Office, determined that 128 signatures were sufficient. The Ohio Supreme Court concurred, ruling that charter amendment petitions require signatures equal to 10% of votes cast in the last general municipal election. Consequently, the court ordered the Butler County Board of Elections to certify the measure, ensuring it advances to a special election.