Granville, Ohio

Ohio has more data center-related ballot measures than any other state heading into next week's midterm elections, accounting for 20 of the 38 such measures nationwide. Central Ohio communities are voting on three types of proposals: outright bans, referendums on specific projects, and requirements for mandatory public votes on future developments.

Sunbury, Granville and Pataskala are using ban language drafted by Conserve Ohio, a statewide effort that would amend city charters to prohibit data centers with a monthly demand load exceeding 25 megawatts, while still permitting smaller operations like university or hospital facilities. Grove City's Issue 28 would not ban data centers but would require developers to put projects exceeding certain thresholds — 50 acres, 500,000 gallons of daily water use, or 20 megawatts of power — to a community vote. In Ashville, voters will decide whether to uphold or repeal the previously approved Edgeconnex data center project. The measures reflect growing local pushback against the rapid expansion of energy- and water-intensive data centers across Ohio.