Prohibit Data Center Construction Initiative is on the November 3, 2026 ballot in Defiance, Ohio.
What it does
Prohibit the construction of data centers with an aggregate demand or peak load greater than 25 megawatts
On your ballot
Shall the Charter of the City of Defiance be amended to add Section 1.12 to Article I to read as follows?
Article I, Section 1.12. Prohibition of a Data Center
(A) The construction of a data center is hereby prohibited.
(B) As used in this Section, "construction" shall mean the erection of one or more buildings, infrastructure, facilities, and related activities, which include preparations and modifications for same, for a common purpose.
(C) As used in this Section, "data center" shall mean one or more buildings or physical facilities or infrastructure, located on a single real property parcel or on contiguous, adjacent, or otherwise aggregated real property parcels that:
(1) Are used primarily or exclusively for digital information services such as the management, storage, processing, and dissemination of electronic data and information through the use of computer systems, servers, networking equipment, and related components, including equipment cooling systems; and
(2) Has an aggregate monthly demand or peak load of greater than twenty-five (25) megawatts, however derived from any energy source, or a combination thereof.
(D) This Section is self-executing.
What a yes vote means
A "yes" vote supports amending the city charter to prohibit the construction of data centers with an aggregate monthly demand or peak load greater than 25 megawatts.