Data center industry wins just one of 41 local ballot contests as voters back restrictions across 10 states
Voters in 10 states approved restrictions on data center development in 40 of 41 local ballot contests, with Ohio accounting for more than half of the measures. Ohio communities approved construction bans and halted an EdgeConneX campus, while Kansas voters enacted a moratorium targeting high-impact facilities based on water use and electrical demand.
Voters across 10 states overwhelmingly backed local restrictions on data center development, giving the industry only one victory in 41 contests. Ohio was the center of the backlash, with residents in multiple communities approving construction bans or limits on large facilities; Ashville voters also voted to halt an EdgeConneX campus under construction. The results followed concerns about electricity demand, water consumption, land use and the cost of tax incentives benefiting operators including Amazon, Google and Meta.
Kansas voters approved a moratorium on facilities using more than 100,000 gallons of water per day or drawing more than 10 megawatts of power, creating a model that could be adopted in other water-stressed states. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine had previously frozen new applications for data center sales-tax exemptions, while political candidates and community groups used the issue to challenge local officials and advocate for broader restrictions. Additional statewide measures are scheduled for votes in Arkansas and North Dakota, and Ohio activists are considering a constitutional amendment for 2027.