Data center ban on the Ohio ballot? Petitioners get approval to start gathering signatures

[RandySF]

Ohio Residents for Responsible Development can start collecting signatures to get a proposed constitutional amendment to prevent new, large data centers in Ohio on the November ballot.

The Ohio Ballot Board on Thursday unanimously certified the proposed amendment that would prohibit the construction of data centers with a peak load of more than 25 megawatts per month. This would prevent most modern data centers. The board was tasked with assuring the proposal contains only one amendment before it could proceed.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is currently deployed with the Ohio Army National Guard, so Kimberly Burns was the acting chairwoman for Thursday’s Ballot Board meeting.

“It’s time to conserve Ohio and not let data centers take away all the natural resources that we are plentiful of so we have life for generations to come,” said Nikki Gerber, an Adams County resident who was part of the group who submitted the proposal.




https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/04/03/data-center-ban-on-the-ohio-ballot-petitioners-get-approval-to-start-gathering-signatures/

[Bluejeans]

1. This amendment will pass considering the recent huge electrical bill increases

Our electricity bills in Ohio have gone up substantially in the last three years with all these data centers being built around the state.

Additionally, people have caught on to the fact these data centers use clean water drawn from the municipal or county water systems and then discharge it into the corresponding sewer treatment plants. We understand this "one use" of water for cooling will deplete the aquifers while also requiring eventually construction of larger or additional water and sewer treatment plants.

This amendment will pass if it reaches the ballot.

[OhioBack2Blue]

2. Privatization sends prices upward...

"Our electricity bills in Ohio have gone up..."

Yes!
But public service property taxes are the "real problem" in Ohio. Sure Jan. 🤡