Ohio Ballot Board unanimously OKs petition drive for data center ban amendment

The Ohio Ballot Board has unanimously given petitioners the green light to begin collecting signatures for a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at banning certain types of new data centers in the state. This citizen-driven initiative seeks to implement a blanket ban on any new data center construction that consumes more than 25 megawatts of electricity per month, an amount estimated to be equivalent to the energy usage of 20,000 to 25,000 residential homes. Proponents from Southern Ohio, present at Thursday's statehouse hearing, hailed the decision as a "huge win," emphasizing its potential impact on governing the state's future. However, opponents argue that such a ban could result in Ohio missing out on high-paying jobs and crucial tax revenue, contending that as long as modern technology like cell phones and AI are in use, the processing needs to occur somewhere, and Ohio should benefit from those opportunities. They also expressed concern that if passed, the amendment would signal that Ohio is "closed for business" to this industry, embedding that stance within the state's constitution.