sheetsadam1 — 2 weeks ago(March 17, 2026 05:20 PM)

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/03/rural-ohioans-seek-to-ban-data-centers-through-constitutional-amendment.html
A group of rural Ohioans says they have little control over the spread of large data centers, and they want to amend the state’s constitution to ban those larger than 25 megawatts.
“My biggest concern is because I love Adams County,” Nikki Gerber said. “What it feels like they are doing is just taking advantage of the unzoned rural areas of Ohio, where they can go ahead and put in whatever they want.”
Gerber and a handful of residents from Adams and Brown counties gathered about 1,800 signatures in eight days to start the ballot process.
They submitted those petitions to the Ohio attorney general’s office on Monday. That’s the first step before supporters can begin collecting signatures statewide.
State law requires at least 1,000 valid voter signatures to begin the process. The petitions must also include the full text of the proposed amendment and a summary explaining what it would do.
Attorney General Dave Yost’s office now has 10 days to decide whether the summary fairly and truthfully describes the proposal. If it does, the measure will move to the Ohio Ballot Board.
Supporters would then need to gather about 413,000 valid signatures by July to place the amendment before voters this November.
“They think we’re a small radical group,” Jessica Baker said. But she had people crowding around to sign her petition all week. “I don’t see the half million signatures being a problem.”
The proposal comes amid growing frustration over data centers, especially in rural Ohio communities where the facilities are often built.
Residents say the massive buildings consume large amounts of electricity and water while bringing relatively few permanent jobs.
Gerger was also frustrated by the proliferation of non-disclosure agreements between big tech companies and local officials.
In Adams County, Gerber said those NDAs have left residents unable to learn basic details about proposed projects—including how much water the facilities would use.
State Reps. Brian Stewart, from Pickaway County, and Adam Bird, from Clermont County, have introduced House Bill 695 to prohibit certain local officials from signing NDAs tied to economic development deals.
Ten years ago, a 30-megawatt data center was considered large, according to an analysis from McKinsey & Company. Today, facilities using 200 megawatts or more are becoming common, driven by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence.
A 25-megawatt limit would effectively block most modern data centers from being built in Ohio.
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