A proposed big data center ban in Ohio clears hurdle, with a ways to go

Ohio residents from rural southwest Ohio, primarily Brown and Adams Counties, are leading a volunteer initiative to place a proposed constitutional amendment, "Prohibition of Construction of a Data Center," on the November ballot. This amendment seeks to ban large-scale data centers that require over 25-megawatts of electricity monthly. At a recent meeting, the Ohio Ballot Board unanimously voted to keep the proposed amendment intact, a decision that simplifies the signature collection process for organizers. Led by residents like Nikki Gerber and Emily Harper, the group must gather more than 413,000 valid signatures from at least half of Ohio's 88 counties by July 1st. Organizers assert that data centers consume excessive natural resources and that local projects have been characterized by a lack of transparency, making residents feel exploited. If the amendment qualifies for the ballot, it is anticipated to encounter significant opposition from various business stakeholders and trade labor unions. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation indicated the data center industry contributed over $1 billion in state and local tax revenue in 2024. Additionally, previous legislative attempts to eliminate sales tax breaks for data center construction were vetoed by Gov. Mike DeWine during the 2026-2027 biennial budget cycle.