Widespread local opposition to data center expansion, driven by concerns over electricity demand, water use, and grid strain from AI and cloud computing facilities, has produced more than 125 active municipal and township moratoriums across Ohio as of mid-October 2026. Recent developments include Cleveland extending its pause into early 2027 and roughly 20 communities holding November 3 ballot measures on zoning restrictions or outright bans for facilities exceeding 25 megawatts. A citizen initiative seeking a statewide constitutional prohibition on large data centers has gathered about 140,000 signatures toward the 410,000 needed for the 2027 ballot, while the legislature’s data center committee continues hearings without enacting broader rules. These trends reflect strong resident sentiment against unchecked development in a key Midwest hub for Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft projects.