In Grove City, Ohio, a grassroots movement led by Patty Spillman and Jen Belt is fighting against a proposed 310-acre data-center campus. Spillman, a Republican, and Belt, a Democrat, have united under the group Protect Grove City to oppose the project due to concerns over water usage, noise, environmental impact, and rising energy costs. Their efforts have already prompted the Grove City council to impose a yearlong moratorium on data-center construction, with residents set to vote in November on a proposal to require voter approval for all large developments.
The opposition to data centers is spreading across Ohio, where over 200 such facilities make it a major hub. A September survey by Bowling Green State University found that nearly 80% of Ohioans support a moratorium on data centers. The issue has become a political flashpoint, with Democrats capitalizing on the sentiment to challenge Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections. Nick Owens, a former county GOP chair, admitted that the backlash against data centers has created a political opening for Democrats in the state.
In Piqua, Ohio, Meta's plans to build a $1 billion data-center campus have sparked outrage due to secrecy and allegations of corruption. Residents successfully petitioned to add a measure to the November ballot aimed at recalling the mayor and other elected officials involved in the deal. Democratic candidate Don Leonard, running in Ohio’s 15th Congressional District, has made data-center opposition a key part of his campaign, finding that over 70% of likely voters in the district want greater say over their location and operation.
The wave of populist anger against data centers has become a unifying issue across the country, connecting to broader themes of affordability, energy costs, and distrust of AI and tech titans. While data centers are not a top-tier national campaign issue, Democrats have spent $137.6 million on broadcast ads about the topic, with 77% of that spending aimed at highlighting the concerns.