Village voters get say in multi-million-dollar data center project
A proposed multi-million-dollar data center and natural gas power plant in Ashville, Ohio, which was initially approved as an emergency by the village, must now face a public referendum. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the village illegally bypassed the referendum process for the 195-acre project, siding with a local citizens group, Pickaway Informed Citizens, who voiced concerns over zoning, environmental impacts, and public subsidies.
The Ohio village of Ashville, with a population of around 4,500, is facing a public vote on a multi-million-dollar data center and natural gas power plant project.
In April, the village signed a contract with EdgeConnex for the 195-acre development. However, the Ohio Supreme Court recently intervened, ruling that the village must submit a referendum petition to the board of elections, allowing residents to vote on the contract. The village had initially approved the projects as an emergency measure, citing public peace, health, and safety, a determination made by the village fiscal office.
A citizens group named Pickaway Informed Citizens strongly opposed the project, arguing before the Ohio Supreme Court that the proliferation of large data centers in Ohio is leading to conflicts between residents and local governments over issues like zoning, environmental effects, and substantial public subsidies. The group highlighted ongoing citizen referendum campaigns against data centers in both Ashville and nearby Commercial Point, emphasizing the importance of public referendums in such decisions. The village, in its defense, contended that referendums are reserved for legislative actions and that the emergency approval was for specific financial reasons related to project funding.