PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — Local leaders in southern Pickaway County are taking decisive steps to slow or stop data center development, citing health concerns, unanswered questions, and growing public opposition.
South Bloomfield Village Council has recently adopted a new zoning code that does not list data centers as a permitted use. In addition, the council approved a 180-day moratorium on any new data center construction to allow time for further review and community discussion.
Mayor Aaron Thomas said the actions are meant to protect residents and ensure transparency as interest in Pickaway County continues to rise among data center developers.
Thomas also addressed rumors surrounding a potential data center at the Crites Farm in South Bloomfield. According to the mayor, the issue surfaced briefly during an Oct. 30 town hall meeting after the farm’s owners approached the village with questions. He said the conversation was limited and no further discussions have occurred.
“The post I made in October asking for resident input was intended to raise awareness and highlight concerns about how information was being shared,” Thomas said, noting the topic was openly discussed during the town hall.
The concern is not limited to South Bloomfield. In Ashville, residents have been vocal in their opposition to proposed data center developments, including a large EdgeConneX project. Many residents have displayed “No Data Center” signs in their yards and worn red shirts to council meetings to show resistance.
Ashville officials announced a special council meeting scheduled for Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, where a 180-day moratorium on data center construction will be considered.
At the state level, Ohio Rep. Brian Stewart said lawmakers attempted to curb incentives for data centers in the most recent state budget. Stewart, chairman of the Ohio House Finance Committee, said House Bill 96 removed a sales tax exemption on data center construction materials — a provision he supported.
However, Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed that measure, allowing the tax break to remain in place.
House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) has publicly criticized the exemption, questioning why data centers receive tax relief that other businesses do not.
“It doesn’t make sense that data centers get a tax exemption for their building materials, but someone building a restaurant, house, or warehouse does not,” Huffman said, while signaling interest in overriding the governor’s veto.
Mayor Thomas is also involved with the Protect Pickaway Alliance, a group that has been sharing information and raising awareness about data center development across the county, particularly in Ashville.
As Central Ohio continues to see rapid growth in data center proposals, local governments in Pickaway County appear increasingly aligned in pressing pause — at least for now — while residents demand clearer answers and greater local control.
