Petition seeks vote on constitutional amendment to ban large data centers in Ohio

The Ohio Attorney General's office has certified a petition seeking a constitutional amendment that would ban large-scale data centers in the state, specifically those demanding over 25 megawatts of power. If successful, this petition would trigger a statewide vote on the proposed ban. Co-petitioner Jessica Baker highlighted the significant effort required, noting that the initiative brought together strangers concerned about data center proliferation. She expressed frustration with elected officials whom she believes are not addressing public concerns. Petitioners face a deadline around July to gather approximately 415,000 signatures from at least 44 Ohio counties to get the amendment on the ballot.