Conserve Ohio pushes ballot measures to block AI data centers in ten communities

A bipartisan coalition called Conserve Ohio is sponsoring ballot initiatives in ten Ohio communities this fall to ban the construction of large-scale data centers. The measures would amend local charters to prohibit facilities that power artificial intelligence, a step that goes beyond the temporary construction pauses adopted by hundreds of local governments.

The organization formed after property records revealed that 1,000 acres of farmland in Mt. Orab, a village of 4,300 people near Cincinnati, were sold to a data center developer in 2024 and 2025. Nondisclosure agreements have kept the project details hidden from residents. The group now includes volunteers in 88 counties across the state.

Nick Owens, a lifelong Republican and attorney from the area, co-founded the group after crossing paths with other local professionals who were alarmed by the secretive sales. The group’s members include Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. Owens said the coalition shares a passion for preserving the rural character of Ohio from what he called a hyperscale data center invasion.

The group is also gathering signatures for a petition to amend the state constitution. Their goal is to place a statewide ban on large-scale data centers before voters in 2027. Owens noted that while politicians often claim communities should have a say, the ballot measures will provide a direct vote on the issue.

Data centers have brought tax revenue, construction jobs, and funding for schools to Ohio for over a decade. However, residents in Mt. Orab are concerned about the noise, emissions, and new power plants required for these facilities. Owens said he would prefer data centers be built on old industrial sites to keep them buffered from residential areas.

The issue has become a central theme in the upcoming midterms. Former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown has labeled incumbent Republican Senator Jon Husted the face of data centers, citing Husted’s past support for the industry while serving as lieutenant governor. Husted has countered that Brown supports data centers and has introduced a federal bill requiring them to pay for power grid upgrades.

Linda Moodie, an independent volunteer in Fairfield, is collecting petition signatures at local events. She does not trust statewide candidates to grant residents a vote on the buildout. In the Republican stronghold of Mt. Orab, which voted 80 percent for President Trump in 2024, Owens sees a drop in campaign enthusiasm and yard signs compared to two years ago.