Ohio Volunteers Target Statewide Data Center Ban

Rural Ohio has become a flashpoint for the expanding data center industry, with local opposition coalescing into a statewide movement. Nick Owens, a lifelong Republican and attorney in Mt. Orab, a village of 4,300 near Cincinnati, led the charge after discovering that 1,000 acres of local farmland were sold to a developer in 2024 and 2025. The transaction occurred under nondisclosure agreements, leaving neighbors unaware of the plans for the land until construction plans emerged. The property borders residential homes, prompting Owens and other local residents to form Conserve Ohio. The group now includes volunteers from nearly all 88 counties in the state.

Conserve Ohio is currently backing ballot initiatives in 10 communities. These measures would amend local charters to prohibit the construction of large-scale data centers used for artificial intelligence. This strategy goes beyond the temporary moratoriums adopted by hundreds of municipal and county governments. Owens stated that the group wants to determine if communities actually want these facilities, noting that politicians often claim communities should have a say. The organization is also drafting a petition for a state constitutional amendment that would ban large-scale data centers statewide. Their goal is to place this measure before Ohio voters in 2027.

The issue has intensified in the lead-up to the midterm elections. Statewide candidates are addressing data center concerns without committing to a sweeping ban. In the race for a U.S. Senate seat, former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown has labeled incumbent Republican Senator Jon Husted as the face of data centers. Brown points to Husted's role as lieutenant governor, where he championed tech investments. Husted has countered by accusing Brown of hypocrisy and has introduced a bill in Congress requiring data centers to pay for power grid upgrades. Senate Democrats have blocked the bill, describing it as toothless.

Linda Moodie, an independent volunteer for Conserve Ohio, does not trust elected officials to give people a direct vote on the buildout. She has been collecting signatures for the statewide ban at public events, such as a recent celebration in Fairfield. Moodie observed that residents are eager to act as the issue impacts their daily lives. The movement has also influenced local political dynamics. Owens, who served as a Trump delegate at the 2024 Republican National Convention, says the data center fight and high diesel prices have dampened Republican enthusiasm. The county voted 80% for President Trump in 2024, but yard signs are sparse this year.

President Trump recently posted on Truth Social that communities rejecting data centers are choosing to be backward and poor. Owens called the president's comments tone deaf, arguing that residents want to maintain their regular way of life. Construction at the Mt. Orab site has not yet begun, and nondisclosure agreements continue to limit public knowledge of the project's timeline and specifics.

Data centers have been built in Ohio for over a decade, drawn by cheap land and tax breaks. While they generate tax revenue and construction jobs, local residents often cite noise and pollution as downsides. Owens suggested that new facilities should be built on old industrial sites rather than pristine farmland. The group is now focused on gathering signatures to secure a spot on the 2027 ballot.