Data-center restrictions advance in Butler County as Cincinnati weighs rules

Cincinnati is considering lasting data-center rules after a public study presentation raised concerns about utility costs, water, power, noise, and pollution; its moratorium ends Feb. 11, 2027, and no policy has been adopted. In Butler County, planning and zoning bodies approved language barring data centers as a primary use in St. Clair Township, but trustees have the final say. Industry representatives point to economic benefits and a need for transparency as Ohio voters reject all 21 statewide ballot issues, a broader signal of public resistance.