Key facts
- Voters in 10 Ohio jurisdictions will decide on ballot measures to ban or curb data center development.
- Conserve Ohio, a PAC founded by Nick Owens and Austin Baurichter, is behind the ballot initiatives.
- Concerns include electricity and water demands, and potential health risks.
- US data center capacity under construction rose 48% from December 2025 to June 2026.
- Amazon has a proposed $2 billion data center project in Sunbury, Ohio, that could be affected by a local measure.
Voters in 10 Ohio jurisdictions will decide on ballot measures aimed at curbing or banning the development of hyperscale data centers, driven by concerns over their environmental impact and potential health risks. This local opposition reflects a broader backlash against the rapid buildout required to power the AI boom. Similar measures are appearing on ballots in 38 jurisdictions nationwide. Developers may shift projects to other locations if these measures pass, as the industry already faces challenges like grid connection delays and rising construction costs. Despite local friction, US data center capacity under construction increased significantly in the first half of 2026.