Wilmington residents take aim at industrial zoning for data centers with ballot referendum

Wilmington, Ohio residents, organized under Wilmington Residents for Responsible Development and led by Jessica Sharp, have successfully pushed for a ballot referendum to challenge a city council decision that rezoned over 500 acres of rural residential land to light industrial. This rezoning could effectively double the area designated for industrial data centers within the city. Sharp stated that the city council and planning commission disregarded expert advice when approving the initial rezoning. The referendum specifically targets the rezoning associated with Ardent/TAC data center projects, distinct from an ongoing Amazon Web Services development. The initiative required collecting more than 1,500 signatures with the help of 45 volunteers to secure a spot on the November ballot for Wilmington voters. Sharp emphasized that the effort continues with campaigning to ensure public awareness, driven by personal concerns for her family's future and the community's well-being in Wilmington. Wilmington Mayor Patrick Haley acknowledged the citizens' right to place a referendum on the ballot but declined further comment due to the matter being under legal review. Concurrently, a broader movement by Ohio Residents for Responsible Development has gained traction, with the Ohio Ballot Board and Attorney General Dave Yost certifying a proposed statewide constitutional amendment. This amendment seeks to prohibit the construction of any new data centers across Ohio with a peak load exceeding 25 megawatts per month, highlighting increasing concerns over energy consumption.