Widespread local opposition to data center expansion, driven by high electricity and water demands from AI training and inference workloads, has produced over 125 municipal moratoriums across Ohio as of September 2026. Residents cite infrastructure strain and environmental costs from facilities often exceeding 100 MW, prompting Cleveland to extend its pause through January 2027 and similar actions in communities like Grove City and Grafton. A citizen group is advancing a constitutional amendment to ban centers drawing more than 25 MW, having gathered roughly 140,000 signatures toward the 2027 ballot after missing the 2026 deadline. November 3 local ballot measures on zoning limits and voter-approval requirements in at least 18 jurisdictions represent near-term tests of sentiment, while statewide legislative pauses remain limited to targeted tax-credit reviews.