Ohio Supreme Court Orders Ashville Restore Data Center Referendum

The Supreme Court of Ohio ruled on August 7 that the village of Ashville improperly blocked a ballot referendum intended to challenge a proposed data center and natural gas facility. The court sided with three residents who sued fiscal officer April Grube after she rejected the ballot measure.

The Ashville Village Council had previously approved a term sheet for the project with EdgeConneX and declared the measure an emergency to bypass the referendum process. The court determined the resolution was not a true emergency, noting that the village failed to explain why a 30-day delay would unnecessarily hinder the project.

While the ruling allows the referendum to proceed to the Pickaway County Board of Elections, it does not guarantee the measure will appear on the November 3 ballot. The legal battle occurs amid increasing statewide opposition to data center developments across Ohio.