Voters in Kansas and Ohio Ban High-Impact Data Centers

Voters in three cities across Kansas and Ohio approved measures to ban high-impact data centers during elections on November 3 and 4, 2026. In Emporia, Kansas, voters passed Question 2, prohibiting facilities with a peak electrical load of 10 megawatts or water consumption exceeding 10,000 gallons per day, while also banning certain battery energy storage systems.

In Ohio, the movement against data centers led to more drastic political shifts. Voters in Piqua recalled Mayor James Vetter, Vice Mayor Frank DeBrosse, and Commissioner William Walker, all of whom had supported data center development. A charter amendment banning such facilities passed with 67% support. In Trenton, Ohio, Issue 17 passed with 80% support, banning data centers over 25 megawatts. This measure blocks the annexation of land for a 1,000-megawatt Amazon facility and threatens a 250-megawatt Prologis project currently under construction.

Supporters of the bans, including Jay Vehige of Emporia Neighbors United and Barry Blankenship of the Woodsdale and Trenton Environmental Resistance group, characterized the victories as a win for everyday citizens over big business. Conversely, Lyle Butler of the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas warned that the Emporia ban signals to investors that the city is narrowing opportunities for new investment. In Piqua, the recalled James Vetter had previously described the development as the best economic growth the city had seen in 40 years.