Local ballot measures put new limits on data-center expansion

What This is

• Across the country, voters approved local ballot measures restricting data-center development, although some votes were advisory rather than binding.
• Reported results overwhelmingly favored restrictions or rejected proposals to allow data centers, with only one outcome favoring development.
• Ohio has been a major center of the backlash, with communities voting for bans, tighter approval requirements, and additional oversight.
• Some races also elevated candidates who pledged to pause or rein in large data centers, including in states such as Texas, Georgia, and Ohio.
• Voters and local organizers cite electricity demand, water use, noise, pollution, land impacts, and worries about higher power bills as key reasons to slow construction.
• Some communities say they are reacting to development processes they view as secretive, including nondisclosure agreements and deals negotiated with limited public input.
• Some ballot fights focused on specific sites, including Boulder City, Nevada, where voters rejected a proposal to allow data centers in the Eldorado Valley Transfer Area.

Why This Matters

• Local restrictions could delay or redirect investment in computing infrastructure used to train and run AI models.
• The votes highlight residents’ demands for a greater say in projects affecting land use and quality of life.
• Decisions on expansion could influence who pays for new electricity and water infrastructure.
• Election wins tied to data-center concerns could increase pressure for stronger state-level rules.