OREGON — Mayor Steven Salander is pledging to keep a contentious data super-center development project from advancing until after voters decide the Nov. 3 election on a proposed data center size limit that, if approved, would effectively kill the project.
The promise puts the final decision in the hands of Oregon residents, who have raised concerns about the scale and impact of the proposed development near their community. The ballot measure would cap how large data centers can be built within city limits.
The debate in Oregon mirrors a growing statewide conversation about Ohio’s data center boom. As technology companies pour investment into the state, communities from central Ohio to the Toledo suburbs have wrestled with questions about electricity demand, water usage and neighborhood impact — concerns that have also surfaced in the Ohio Statehouse, where some lawmakers have pushed for data center moratoriums.
Supporters of data center projects argue they bring construction jobs, tax revenue and long-term economic development to host communities. Critics say the facilities consume vast amounts of power and water while offering relatively few permanent jobs once construction is complete.
By freezing the project until after the election, Salander is giving residents a direct say rather than letting the decision rest solely with city officials. The Nov. 3 vote will determine whether the size limit takes effect — and with it, the fate of the proposed super-center.
Data center proposals have become one of the most divisive local issues across Ohio in 2026, joining property taxes and housing costs as top concerns for voters heading into the November election.
