Midterms show Americans firm in stopping data center mushrooming | Daily Sabah
Piqua, Ohio, voters approved a ban on data centers larger than 25 megawatts, putting Meta's previously approved, billion-dollar project at risk. Voters in Ottawa, Kansas, and Janesville, Wisconsin, also backed restrictions, while Janesville had already rejected a proposed Viridian data center and adopted a one-year moratorium.
Voters in several U.S. communities backed data center restrictions during the midterm elections, reflecting growing concerns about AI-related development, infrastructure demands, environmental impacts and limited long-term employment. In Piqua, Ohio, roughly two-thirds of voters approved a ban on facilities larger than 25 megawatts, jeopardizing Meta's planned data center, which had already received approval. Farmer Alisha Lange and the Save Piqua grassroots group led the campaign.
Residents in Ottawa, Kansas, also approved a ban on large data centers. In Janesville, Wisconsin, the City Council rejected an $8 billion proposal from developer Viridian for a former General Motors site, adopted a one-year moratorium and then backed rules requiring voter approval for any large-scale project at the site. Activists said communities are seeking greater transparency and evaluating tax effects, infrastructure, quality of life and environmental concerns alongside promised investment and jobs.