Conserve Ohio Targets Statewide Data Center Ban in 2027

A coalition of Ohio residents is pursuing a state constitutional amendment to ban large-scale data centers. The group aims to place the measure before voters in 2027.

The effort originated in Mt. Orab, a village of 4,300 people near Cincinnati. In 2024 and 2025, property records show that 1,000 acres of farmland and trees were sold to a data center developer. The land borders two-story homes. Nick Owens, a local attorney and lifelong Republican, led the initial investigation into the transaction. Nondisclosure agreements prevented residents from accessing details about the development. Owens joined with a fellow attorney and a real estate agent to organize opposition. They formed Conserve Ohio, a network of volunteers spanning nearly all 88 counties in the state. The group includes Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.

This fall, Conserve Ohio is backing ballot initiatives in 10 communities. These local measures would amend charters to stop the construction of hyperscale facilities used for artificial intelligence. The group argues that local pauses are temporary. They want permanent protections. Owens stated that the initiative tests whether communities truly want these projects. The coalition is also working on a petition for a statewide ban. This would require a constitutional amendment.

Tech companies have built data centers in Ohio for over a decade. The state offers cheap land, energy infrastructure, and tax breaks. Developers cite economic benefits such as tax revenue, school funding, and construction jobs. Residents often oppose the noise, emissions, and secrecy involved. Owens suggested that data centers should be built on old industrial sites rather than pristine farmland. He noted that brownfield sites buffer noise and pollution from residents. He questioned why developers do not prioritize these locations.

The issue has become central to the 2026 midterm elections. Candidates for statewide office are addressing voter concerns. Former Senator Sherrod Brown criticized incumbent Senator Jon Husted for welcoming tech investments to Ohio. Husted countered that Brown previously supported data centers. Husted also introduced a bill in Congress requiring data centers to pay for power grid upgrades. Senate Democrats blocked the measure.

Volunteers like Linda Moodie, an independent, are collecting signatures for the statewide ban. Moodie expressed distrust in candidates to act without a direct mandate from voters. She collected petition signatures at a community event in Fairfield. Owens, a delegate to the 2024 Republican National Convention, noted that the data center issue has dampened Republican enthusiasm in rural areas. He pointed to a lack of campaign yard signs in Mt. Orab. The county voted 80% for President Trump in 2024. Owens described the current political atmosphere as having a pronounced enthusiasm gap among rural Republicans.

President Trump recently posted on Truth Social that communities wanting data centers should not be backward. He argued that killing data centers would mean killing a golden goose. Owens called the comments tone deaf. Construction at the Mt. Orab site has not begun. The timeline remains unclear. Residents continue to gather signatures ahead of the 2027 election.