Strong Opposition to Data Centers Evident in Ohio Elections
During last Tuesday’s elections, a significant majority of Americans expressed their opposition to the rapid expansion of data centers across the country. In various local elections, 45 measures related to data centers were presented in 10 states. By early Wednesday morning, 33 measures aimed at restricting the facilities had been approved, with six additional proposals expected to follow suit, according to a tracking platform.
Only one city, Harwood in North Dakota, voted against a measure requiring public hearings prior to the approval of substantial industrial projects, such as data centers with a capacity of 100 megawatts. The measures that passed included outright bans, temporary restrictions, limitations on energy consumption, and requirements for public approval by elected officials before projects could proceed. Data from five localities remains unavailable.
The resistance to data centers was particularly strong in Ohio, which currently has 257 such facilities. Data centers appeared on 20 ballots statewide, and in all instances, the votes to impose restrictions have succeeded or are expected to succeed. Notably, cities such as Urbana and Hubbard saw overwhelming support for outright bans, with 76% and 77% of residents voting against allowing data centers, respectively.
In the state’s senatorial race, Democrat Sherrod Brown emphasized his opposition to data centers as a key element of his campaign, criticizing his opponent, Senator Jon Husted, as being the “face of data centers” and attributing the presence of over 200 facilities in Ohio to him. The Associated Press announced Brown’s victory in the election. The sentiment against data centers also appeared to influence several other races across the nation, as an NBC exit poll revealed that 56% of voters considered AI and data centers as either a crucial or significant factor in their congressional voting decisions.
