Ohio Supreme Court Mandates Special Election on Trenton Data Center Ban
The Ohio Supreme Court has ordered the city of Trenton, Ohio, to hold a special election regarding a proposed ban on large data centers. This decision grants residents of the Butler County city a direct vote on an issue they have been contesting for over a year. The case originated from a petition effort by a local group named WATER (Woodsdale and Trenton Environmental Resistance), which collected approximately 300 signatures to put the ban before voters. The group's objective is to halt the construction of a new data center and prevent future similar developments. Residents, including Lorie Blankenship and Linda Rex, have expressed concerns about the potential impact on the local aquifer, environmental contamination, increased electricity costs, and the devaluation of their homes. City leaders had previously argued that the petition lacked sufficient valid signatures and that data centers would bring economic benefits and investment to Trenton, including to local schools. 
