Oregon Voters Decide Nov. 3 Whether to Block the $1 Billion Vantage Data Center
Oregon voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to block new large data centers. Issue 25 would amend the city charter to ban data centers over 25 megawatts. The measure is an initiative. A yes vote supports amending the charter to prohibit construction of data centers with an aggregate monthly demand or peak load greater than 25 megawatts. A no vote opposes the amendment. The proposed Vantage Data Centers campus is planned at approximately 475 megawatts. A yes vote would effectively stop the project.
The Vote No campaign says the project would invest nearly $250 million into Oregon’s schools and city. The opposition campaign is Building Our Future Ohio. United Neighbors of Oregon launched the initiative campaign for the charter amendment. Proponents needed 1,700 valid signatures to qualify the amendment for the ballot.
The figure equaled approximately 10% of the city’s registered voters. The deadline was Aug. 5, 2026.
The Lucas County Board of Elections certified that the petition contained enough valid signatures. On Aug. 17, the Oregon City Council unanimously accepted the certification. The council sent the amendment to the ballot.
Voters in Pataskala, Ohio, face a similar 25-megawatt proposal on Nov. 3. Around 40 local ballot measures nationwide concerning data center development are up for a vote on Nov. 3.
A charter amendment changes a city’s governing document. Initiatives reach the ballot through voter signatures. Data centers are facilities that house computer systems.
Oregon Mayor Steven Salander pledged to keep the project from advancing until after voters decide. The decision now rests with Oregon voters on Nov. 3.
