PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
PETITION DRIVE … Volunteers stand with signs during a drive through petition signing event held Saturday, May 23, at Studio 66 Salon in Archbold. Pictured from left are Kim Parsley, Jan Litogot, Emma Smith, Noah Nagel, and Abby Pennington. The event was part of a statewide effort to collect signatures for a proposed Ohio constitutional amendment seeking to prohibit large scale data centers that consume more than 25 megawatts of energy.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
A drive-through petition signing event was held in Archbold on Saturday, May 23, as local volunteers continued collecting signatures for a proposed Ohio constitutional amendment aimed at limiting large-scale data center development.
The event took place at Studio 66 Salon in Archbold, where circulators greeted residents in their vehicles and helped verify voter registration before signatures were collected.
Organizers said the drive-through format allowed people to sign without getting out of their vehicles, while signs along nearby roads helped direct traffic to the location.
Abby Pennington, one of the local organizing volunteers helping with the effort, said the Archbold event was the fourth or fifth petition signing event held locally by the group.
She said about 20 volunteers throughout Fulton County have been working to gather signatures at different locations, including previous events at Ruihley Park and Benfield Wines.
Pennington said the rain may have slowed traffic somewhat, but the event still saw a steady flow of people.
She added that volunteers were also handing out petition packets through a “get 10” effort, which encourages supporters to collect signatures from registered voters among friends and family after receiving a brief training.
The petition seeks to amend the Ohio Constitution to ban the construction of data centers that consume more than 25 megawatts of energy.
Organizers argue that 25 megawatts marks the difference between a manageable facility and an industrial-scale data center that can use as much power as a small town.
Pennington said the effort is part of a statewide initiative through Conserve Ohio, with signatures being collected from counties across the state.
She said local volunteers are able to collect signatures from registered voters in any Ohio county, and that petitions are expected to be mailed to Conserve Ohio by mid-June.
She said volunteers are also helping some residents verify or update their voter registration before signing. According to Pennington, organizers prefer to check registration ahead of time to help ensure signatures are valid.
When asked why she has become involved in the effort, Pennington said her main concern is protecting the community and future generations. She said she believes large data centers could raise concerns involving energy use, air quality, water resources, contamination, and the overall appearance of the area.
“I really care about our community,” Pennington said, adding that she wants what is best for Archbold, Fulton County, and the state as a whole.
Pennington also said local residents are now looking at the issue beyond Archbold, noting that water and other resources connect communities across county lines.
She said the group wants to help at the state level while continuing to keep local residents informed.
Organizers said additional signing opportunities are being posted through Conserve Ohio’s website, where residents can search for locations across the state.
Pennington also said more help is needed as the deadline approaches, especially from people willing to collect signatures from registered voters they know.
