Ohio Supreme Court rules on potential vote on two data centers and natural gas plant
The Ohio Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the village of Ashville must submit petitions for a ballot issue regarding two data centers and a natural gas plant to elections officials. This decision stems from a challenge by residents and a group called Data Center Resistance, who opposed the deal Ashville struck with EdgeConneX, arguing it was not emergency legislation. While the petitions must be submitted, elections officials still have the authority to decide if the agreement is subject to a referendum.
The Ohio Supreme Court has unanimously ordered the village of Ashville to forward petitions for a ballot issue concerning two proposed data centers and a natural gas plant to the Pickaway County Board of Elections. The ruling stated that Ashville did not provide sufficient reasons to declare the deal, struck with EdgeConneX, as emergency legislation, which would have exempted it from a public referendum. Residents and the group Data Center Resistance had gathered enough valid signatures to place the issue on the fall ballot, challenging the village's initial refusal to submit the petitions.
Marc Dann, a former Ohio attorney general now representing Data Center Resistance, praised the court's decision, calling it a victory for citizens' constitutional right to a referendum and potentially the first public vote on data centers in Ohio. However, the vote is not yet guaranteed, as election officials could still decide that the agreement constitutes an administrative action, which is also not subject to a referendum. Requests for comment from EdgeConneX and the Data Center Coalition went unanswered.