Trenton, Ohio, Voters to Decide Data Center Ban Amid Annexation Dispute
Trenton, Ohio, voters will decide on a ballot measure to ban data centers in the city following an Ohio Supreme Court ruling. This decision comes as the city attempts to annex land from two townships, St. Clair and Madison, for a proposed Amazon data center, a proposal which both townships have rejected. Residents and environmental groups are actively opposing the development.
Trenton City Council recently met to discuss two contentious issues: data centers and Flock safety cameras. A major point of discussion was the requirement, stemming from an Ohio Supreme Court ruling, that Trenton voters must decide by year-end whether to ban data centers within city limits.
The city's efforts to attract an Amazon data center are complicated by its attempts to annex 601 acres of land from St. Clair and Madison townships. Both townships have rejected Trenton's annexation proposal. City officials, including Stanislav Beresford, clerk of council, presented arguments in favor of annexation, emphasizing its historical precedent and transparency in data center discussions. They also detailed financial offers made to the townships by the city and Amazon, which ultimately failed to resolve disagreements.
During public comment, several residents, including Barry Blankenship, expressed strong opposition to data centers. Larry Falcon, representing the Sierra Club Miami Group, also spoke, suggesting that the proposed growth might not be beneficial to the city. Trenton Mayor Ryan Perry (R) shared his perspective, noting that without annexation, the city would lose its ability to influence the project's development. The data center project now faces significant hurdles with the upcoming voter ballot question and the ongoing annexation dispute.