Ottawa voters will decide in November on a proposed ordinance banning data centers that draw over 25 megawatts in the city. District Judge Eric Godderz ordered the question onto the ballot after the group Ottawa United sued the city over its petition.

The Franklin County Clerk verified the petition on August 7 with over 1,000 valid signatures. State law then gave commissioners 20 days to adopt the ordinance or send it to voters. Acting on advice from outside counsel, who called the petition invalid because the issue was administrative, they did neither.

The judge still has to settle that point, and the ban's fate depends on the vote and his final ruling. Judges in similar Emporia and El Dorado cases found the question legislative. The city's planned Proximity Park sale to Lightfield Energy, a data center developer, still stands.

For details, see KOFO's reports on the lawsuit and the ruling.