Ohio communities push back on data centers with moratoriums
Ohio voters approved dozens of data center moratoriums during the election, including bans in Hubbard and other Mahoning Valley communities. Researchers say the results show growing opposition driven by concerns about utility costs, labor competition and the broader economic effects of data center expansion.
Ohio voters approved 21 ballot initiatives involving data centers, including bans backed by 13 municipalities such as Hubbard. The results made Ohio the state with the most data center-related ballot measures and marked a shift from public protest toward legally binding local restrictions.
Sean O’Leary, a senior researcher and author at the Ohio River Valley Institute, said the measures could prompt developers to consider other states, including West Virginia, which is courting data center investment. He also warned that increased demand from data centers could raise utility bills and intensify competition for skilled workers, potentially offsetting some of the tax benefits promised to host communities.