Ohio has more than half of the nation's local data center ballot measures

Ohio voters face 21 local measures on data centers in 18 jurisdictions in 2026, more than half of the 39 that Ballotpedia is tracking in eight states, Newsweek reported. Thirty-five of the national total are on Nov. 3 ballots; the four already decided this year all favored tighter limits.

Conneaut, Defiance, Oregon and Sunbury would ban large data centers, generally those drawing about 25 megawatts or more. Granville, Pataskala, Trenton, Hubbard and Urbana have other bans before voters, ranging from large-scale centers to any data center inside city limits, and Piqua and Upper Sandusky would write bans into their city charters.

Other measures set conditions. Grove City's would require a public vote on big projects, such as those covering at least 50 acres or using more than 20 megawatts of power or 500,000 gallons of water a day. In Perry, developers of hyperscale campuses seeking special tax breaks would have to post financial guarantees.

Some ask voters to ratify decisions already made. Ashville votes on a term sheet for talks with EdgeConneX over two data centers, Wilmington has three rezoning referendums, and Monroe and Sprigg townships in Adams County have zoning initiatives. Monroeville's question is advisory.

The issue runs through the U.S. Senate race. Democrat Sherrod Brown says big tech companies should pay the full cost of the power they use, while Republican Sen. Jon Husted backs the administration's push to build AI infrastructure while addressing electricity prices.