Voters in 10 U.S. states will decide on Election Day whether to curb data center development, as local opposition to the facilities powering the AI boom intensifies. In Ohio, the fastest-growing data center market, residents in over a dozen jurisdictions will consider 21 ballot measures alongside the midterm elections, according to Ballotpedia.
Across 38 local jurisdictions, voters will weigh at least 41 measures aimed at delaying, prohibiting, or imposing new requirements on data centers—the sprawling facilities that supply the computing power for AI applications. The proposals reflect a cross-party backlash, with support for restrictions coming from both Democrats and Republicans.
Ohio’s ballot measures
Ohio has emerged as the epicenter of the debate, with no state having more data center-related ballot initiatives. Local organizer Jessica Baker, part of the advocacy group Conserve Ohio, attributed opposition to concerns over electricity and water consumption, as well as fears about potential health risks to children, such as asthma. Even if developers generate their own power via gas turbines or nuclear reactors, residents remain opposed to nearby construction.
“We all want the same thing,” Baker said, emphasizing that the opposition spans political lines. If restrictions pass, developers are likely to redirect projects elsewhere rather than cancel them entirely, according to Baron Fung, an IT infrastructure research director at Dell’Oro Group. The industry already faces obstacles, including years-long waits for grid connections and rising construction costs.
Health concerns fuel opposition in Arizona
In Page, Arizona, residents have mobilized against a proposed $10 billion mega data center, citing fears over light pollution, sound pollution, and rising temperatures. Doug Herrera, a local resident whose father died from cancer, expressed skepticism about the project’s safety, stating, “I’m highly against the data center.” The City Council approved the land sale, but the developer still requires zoning approvals.
The debate has become a flashpoint in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District race, with candidates divided over new data center approvals. The state’s attorney general has called for a pause on new approvals and building, while emerging research into potential health effects has bolstered opposition efforts.
Industry and policy challenges
The data center industry contends with major hurdles, including grid connection delays and escalating costs. Developers may shift projects to other states if restrictions pass, rather than abandon them, Fung noted. The opposition’s growth reflects a broader trend, with political science professor Lee Hannah observing that organized resistance has only recently emerged, despite the rapid expansion of data centers in recent years.
The ballot measures underscore a growing divide between local communities and tech companies, as well as the challenges of balancing economic benefits with environmental and health concerns.