Citizens organize to stop data centers

A grassroots effort led by Ohio residents, particularly in southern Ohio, is underway to propose a constitutional amendment that would ban large data centers consuming 25 megawatts or more of electricity across the state. Nikki Gerber, co-organizer of the group, stated that petition language and signatures have been submitted as a first step in a challenging process, requiring over 400,000 valid signatures to appear on the November ballot. The initiative is driven by concerns over the environmental and economic impact of data centers, including significant electricity and water consumption, rising residential electric bills, and the encroachment on farmland. Gerber noted that local officials in her area, including county commissioners, declined to implement a moratorium on data center development, prompting the statewide amendment push. She highlighted a proposed hyperscale data center in her vicinity that, despite claims of not being finalized, shows active construction-related work. While data centers have historically been welcomed with tax breaks and incentives, public sentiment is shifting as residents face increased utility costs and environmental worries. Gerber argues that data centers offer limited long-term local jobs and that the costs of infrastructure expansion are disproportionately borne by taxpayers rather than developers. The group aims to force state lawmakers to address these concerns, emphasizing that politicians are hearing from voters who don't want data centers in their communities.