Municipalities in Ohio and North Carolina Restrict Data Center Growth

Local governments in three cities are taking divergent legal and legislative paths to restrict the development of high-power data centers. In Trenton, Ohio, the Trenton City Council voted Monday to reject a charter amendment petition that would have banned data centers exceeding 25 megawatts. The council ruled that the Woodsdale and Trenton Environmental Resistance group failed to meet the 820-signature threshold. This decision contradicts a interpretation from the Butler County Prosecutor's Office, which suggested the threshold should have been only 128 signatures.

Supporters of the ban intend to challenge the council's ruling by filing an expedited writ of mandamus with the Ohio Supreme Court. The legal dispute stems from resident opposition to a planned 250-megawatt facility and its potential expansion into annexed land.

Meanwhile, other cities are using moratoriums to study the impacts of these facilities. The Greensboro City Council in North Carolina voted 9-0 on August 3 to begin a process for a 120-day moratorium on data centers exceeding 10 megawatts. This pause is intended to evaluate environmental and electrical grid impacts before potentially amending land development ordinances.

In Athens, Ohio, the City Council unanimously passed Ordinance 70-26, establishing a one-year moratorium on data centers that may be extended for another 12 months. This measure allows the city to develop zoning regulations and assess community and economic impacts following rapid industry growth in Athens County.