Some Ohioans want to ban big data centers. They now have 90 days to get 400,000 signatures

A significant grassroots effort is underway in Ohio to prohibit large data centers throughout the state. The Ohio Ballot Board recently voted unanimously to approve a proposed constitutional amendment as a single ballot issue, paving the way for it to potentially appear before voters in November. The amendment, backed by Ohio Residents for Responsible Development, targets data centers that consume more than 25 megawatts of power monthly. Andrew Gula, a committee member, emphasized that the issue impacts all Ohioans, regardless of their political or economic standing. Supporters cite concerns about escalating electricity rates, the acquisition of agricultural land, and increased property taxes due to inflated property values. However, the proposal faces skepticism from some lawmakers, including State Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus), who expressed reservations about an outright ban, questioning its economic wisdom. The data center industry has also voiced strong opposition. Dan Diorio, Vice President of State Policy for the Data Center Coalition, issued a statement warning that a statewide moratorium would deter investment, harm Ohio's economic progress, and signal an unfavorable business environment. With ballot board approval secured, the campaign now confronts the daunting task of gathering over 400,000 valid voter signatures by the July 1 deadline. While attorney Austin Baurichter, a co-author of the petition, expressed confidence in their ability to meet the target, Sen. DeMora was candid about the significant challenge, noting the difficulty even for large political parties to collect such a volume of signatures in the given timeframe.