Ohio Activists Propose Constitutional Amendment to Ban Large Data Centers
Activists in Ohio are proposing a constitutional amendment to ban large-scale data centers that consume over 25 megawatts of energy per month. This effort is driven by concerns over the environmental impact, including increased greenhouse gas emissions, water depletion, and pollution, as well as skepticism about job creation claims. The article criticizes tech giants like Microsoft, Palantir, and Anthropic for their role in the data center buildout and the expansion of AI.
A column in the News and Sentinel warns against the rapid expansion of data centers driven by artificial intelligence, labeling it an "ecological catastrophe" and a tool for tech giants to exert control. The author argues that promises of job creation are misleading, citing an instance where a $136 million data center in Northeast Ohio created only ten full-time positions while receiving significant tax exemptions.
The article highlights the severe environmental consequences of data centers, including the release of harmful chemicals, depletion of water resources, various forms of pollution, habitat loss, and a massive surge in greenhouse gas emissions. It criticizes Microsoft for potentially abandoning its 2030 clean energy targets due to increased AI-driven energy demands, and former CEO Bill Gates for a perceived shift in his stance on climate change.
The piece also references Palantir CEO Alex Karp and a Washington Post column by Palantir's Anthony Bak and Mehdi Alhassani, which argued against blocking data center construction, claiming it would make AI accessible only to the wealthy. The author refutes this, calling it a ploy by the elite to further their own interests.
In response to these concerns, the author details an active opposition movement called Conserve Ohio, which is working to amend the Ohio state Constitution. This amendment would ban the construction of data centers consuming over 25 megawatts of energy per month. Volunteers are currently collecting signatures to place this initiative on the November ballot, with signing locations including Cobbler John's in Marietta.