Everyday Americans are fighting to take down data centers

Ohio Residents Seek Constitutional Amendment Limiting Large Data Centers

Rural residents in southwest Ohio have launched a petition drive to place a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot that would restrict the construction of data centers consuming more than 25 megawatts of power per month. The effort, organized under the name ConserveOhio, collected signatures from volunteers across all 88 counties and shifted its target from the November 2026 election to November 2027 after missing the earlier deadline.

Karley Baurichter, a resident of Higginsport in Brown County, described her family’s long history in the area and her concerns about proposed facilities in Brown and Adams counties. She cited potential effects on local water supplies, noise, lighting, and changes to rural landscapes. Baurichter and other volunteers have tracked plans for facilities along the Ohio River and on large tracts near Mount Orab.

The petition would define a threshold of 25 megawatts monthly, a level that state officials have noted can support roughly 15,000 to 25,000 average households. Committee members, including attorney Nick Owens and Austin Baurichter, began drafting language in March 2026 after learning of local projects through public records requests. They first secured approval from the Ohio Attorney General and then began gathering the required signatures.

Ohio currently ranks sixth nationally in the number of data centers, with 224 facilities operating statewide and 140 located in central Ohio counties. State data show an additional 77 projects planned through 2030. A Columbus Dispatch review of utility records found that facilities in the Columbus area used approximately 1.2 billion gallons of water from May 2025 through May 2026.

Local officials in several counties have responded to resident inquiries by citing nondisclosure agreements during early planning stages. In Mount Orab, the village council approved a six-month moratorium on new data centers in late March 2026. Similar discussions have occurred in Butler and Clinton counties.

To qualify for the ballot, Ohio law requires petitions to gather signatures equal to at least 10 percent of votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election, drawn from at least 44 counties with minimum thresholds in each. The ConserveOhio committee reported more than 76,000 signatures by mid-June 2026 and stated it would continue collection through 2027. The group has raised funds for printing and signage and enlisted more than 1,000 volunteers, including county-level leads.

Data centers have also produced measurable economic effects in several Ohio counties. Construction projects have created temporary employment, and completed facilities have contributed to local property tax rolls in areas that previously relied on agriculture or light manufacturing. County officials in central Ohio have cited these revenues when approving zoning changes or infrastructure extensions.

The petition committee has described its effort as bipartisan, with participation from individuals who supported different candidates in recent elections. Volunteers report collecting signatures at public events and receiving both support and questions from passersby. Some residents have expressed interest in the jobs and tax base associated with the industry, while others have raised questions about long-term water use and land conversion.

Ohio is one of 19 states that permit citizen-initiated constitutional amendments. Committee members have stated they intend to continue signature collection and public outreach regardless of the 2027 timeline. They have also encouraged similar petition efforts in other states that allow direct ballot measures.

Statewide, data center development has followed patterns seen in other regions with available land, transmission capacity, and water access. Industry reports list power demand, fiber connectivity, and tax incentives among the primary siting factors. Local governments retain authority over zoning and permitting, subject to state utility regulations.

The ConserveOhio proposal would apply uniformly across Ohio if approved by voters. It would not affect existing facilities but would set a new limit on future projects exceeding the 25-megawatt monthly threshold. As of early July 2026, the committee continued processing signature sheets and updating its public tracker.