On Nov. 3, Trenton, Ohio voters get to decide whether giant data centers belong in their city. Issue 17 would change the city charter to ban new data centers that draw more than 25 megawatts of power at peak. A yes vote approves the ban.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) wants to build a data center on land along Wayne Madison Road, just south of the city. At a public meeting at Edgewood Middle School, residents asked AWS staff hard questions about water use, the power grid, local jobs, and how many hours backup generators would run. Even an AWS representative told FOX19 that some of those concerns were fair.

Those questions deserve real answers before a project this big moves forward. Large data centers are known for heavy electricity demand, and many rely on water for cooling. For a small town, that can mean more strain on the local grid, more pressure on water supplies, and land that may never return to what it was. Once a facility this size is built, it is very hard to undo.

Issue 17 puts the choice where it belongs: with the people who live in Trenton. The measure targets only the largest centers, those above 25 megawatts. If voters approve it, Trenton City Council and city leaders should respect the result and make sure the new charter rule is fully enforced.

Trenton residents have every right to shape how their town grows. Sign the petition to support Yes on Issue 17 and keep large-scale data centers out of Trenton before voters head to the polls on Nov. 3.