Ohio voters reject data center projects in all 18 communities with ballot measures
Ohio voters in all 18 communities considering data center restrictions approved measures limiting or banning development. Wilmington voters rejected four zoning changes, Piqua and Upper Sandusky approved citywide bans, and a proposed Smartland Energy project in Upper Sandusky was placed in doubt.
Voters across 18 Ohio communities approved ballot measures restricting data center development, including four rejected zoning changes in Wilmington and bans within the city limits of Piqua and Upper Sandusky. Piqua voters also recalled three city commissioners who had approved a Meta data center project, while nearly 77% of Upper Sandusky voters backed a charter amendment blocking data centers.
Upper Sandusky had been proposed as the site of a nearly $1 billion Smartland Energy project involving a 150-megawatt natural gas plant and a potential adjacent data center. Smartland said it would respect the vote and evaluate the outcome. Conserve Ohio urged state lawmakers to enact a 12-month development moratorium, citing concerns about power, water, farmland and infrastructure, while industry groups warned that restrictions could reduce economic and job opportunities.