Save Piqua circulating referendum petition to stop data center
The Piqua City Commission approved a franchise agreement with AES Ohio to provide electricity for a proposed Meta hyperscale data center, despite public opposition. In response, the citizen group Save Piqua is circulating a referendum petition to force a public vote on the deal, potentially stopping the data center. Save Piqua has also filed petitions for a charter amendment to prohibit data center construction and initiated recall petitions against city commissioners.
The Piqua City Commission recently voted 4-1 to approve Ordinance O-7-26, a franchise agreement with AES Ohio. This agreement allows the utility to build and operate electric facilities within Piqua, Ohio, specifically to serve J5 LLC, the entity behind a proposed Meta hyperscale data center. This approval occurred despite significant public opposition.
The citizen group Save Piqua is actively circulating a referendum petition against Ordinance O-7-26. If enough valid signatures are collected from registered Piqua voters, the ordinance will be suspended, and the AES franchise deal will be put to a public vote, giving residents the power to block the data center project.
In addition to the referendum, Save Piqua has submitted petitions for a city charter amendment that would prohibit the construction, use, and expansion of data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities within Piqua. The group has also initiated recall petitions targeting Mayor James Vetter, Vice Mayor Frank DeBrosse, and Third Ward Commissioner Rick Walker, all of whom are set to be presented before the commission.