Voters reject data centers at the ballot
Voters approved dozens of local data center moratoriums during the election, including 21 measures in Ohio, while a measure in Harwood, North Dakota, failed. Ohio has also paused additional data center tax credits, and state officials are considering further restrictions as opposition grows over utility costs, labor demand and other economic impacts.
Senior researcher Sean O'Leary of the Ohio River Valley Institute said election results show that opposition to data centers has moved beyond protests and is producing binding local restrictions. Voters approved dozens of moratoriums nationwide, more than half of the measures were in Ohio, and a separate moratorium proposal was rejected in Harwood, North Dakota.
O'Leary said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has paused the granting of additional tax credits for data centers, while Ohio's governor-elect has expressed support for a moratorium. He noted that West Virginia is actively pursuing data center development, but warned that opposition could spread there as it has in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana. O'Leary also argued that data center growth is contributing to higher utility bills and increased labor and energy costs, despite proponents' claims about tax revenue.