Trenton Council rejects data center ban petition; opposition plans legal challenge
Trenton City Council rejected a petition to amend the city charter to ban data centers over 25 megawatts, citing insufficient valid signatures based on their interpretation of 'electors'. The Woodsdale and Trenton Environmental Resistance group, which gathered the signatures, plans to challenge the decision by filing a writ of mandamus with the Ohio Supreme Court.
Trenton City Council voted to reject a ballot petition aiming to amend the city charter to ban data centers exceeding 25 megawatts. The petition, spearheaded by the Woodsdale and Trenton Environmental Resistance group, was submitted with 464 signatures, of which 336 were verified as valid by the Butler County Board of Elections.
The council's decision hinged on the interpretation of "electors" in the city charter, with City Attorney Nick Ziepfel noting that if it referred to all registered voters, 820 signatures were needed, versus 128 if it meant only those who voted in the last election. The council ultimately adopted the interpretation requiring 820 signatures, deeming the petition short of the threshold.
Despite the Butler County Prosecutor's Office advising that 10% of voters who cast ballots in the preceding election met the constitutional requirement for a ballot issue, the city maintained its stricter interpretation. Barry Blankenship, a leader of the opposition group, announced plans to file an expedited writ of mandamus with the Ohio Supreme Court to challenge the council's decision and compel the city to place the amendment on the November ballot.
This petition follows months of community pushback against a planned 250-megawatt data center on 141 acres of former farmland and discussions for another 600-acre data center project in the area, with residents expressing concerns over noise, water usage, and environmental impacts.