Trenton voters will decide on a data center ban: Election 2026
Trenton, Ohio voters are set to decide on a ballot measure on November 3 that would ban large-scale data centers within city limits, defining them as facilities requiring over 25 megawatts of electricity. This initiative follows a lawsuit by local opposition groups, led by W.A.T.E.R. and Conserve Ohio, which ultimately led the Ohio Supreme Court to order the measure onto the ballot. While an existing Amazon data center would be unaffected, the fate of a larger proposed Amazon project and future developments hinges on the vote.
Trenton, Ohio, is facing a pivotal decision on November 3 as voters prepare to cast ballots on a proposed charter amendment that would prohibit the construction of large-scale data centers within city limits. The amendment targets facilities demanding more than 25 megawatts of electricity monthly, a threshold designed to distinguish industrial developments from smaller community-scale projects.
This ballot initiative emerged from significant local opposition, spearheaded by groups like the Woodsdale and Trenton Environmental Resistance Group (W.A.T.E.R.) and supported by Conserve Ohio. Nick Owens, an attorney and founder of Conserve Ohio, assisted in drafting the amendment. Opposition intensified after plans surfaced in October 2025 for a proposed data center project involving developer Prologis. Barry and Lorie Blankenship, key figures in W.A.T.E.R., were plaintiffs in a lawsuit that compelled the Ohio Supreme Court to order the measure onto the ballot after the city initially resisted.
While an Amazon Web Services data center currently under construction in Trenton would not be impacted by the ban, the future of a larger, proposed 18-building AWS campus across 600 acres in Madison and St. Clair townships remains uncertain. The annexation necessary for this larger project was recently withdrawn following objections from the townships. Public sentiment in Trenton is divided, with supporters citing concerns over environmental impacts, energy consumption, and the rapid growth of AI, while opponents highlight potential revenue benefits for the city.
Trenton's Law Director Nick Ziepfel raised concerns about the amendment's constitutionality if approved, though constitutional questions typically follow adoption. City council members Marci Butts, Austin Proffitt, and Kenneth Roark expressed support for residents having a voice but declined to endorse the amendment itself, emphasizing the need for future economic development opportunities. The outcome of the vote could significantly shape Trenton's landscape for data center development.