Ohio farmers warn data center boom could weaken property rights
By Morgan Trau, Ohio Capital Journal
Ohio farmers are raising alarms over a proposed change to eminent domain law that could allow utilities or state-backed infrastructure projects to take possession of private land before landowners are fully paid or finished fighting compensation in court.
The Ohio Business Roundtable says the “deposit and build” model would prevent years-long delays after public use and necessity are established, but the Ohio Farm Bureau warns the language is broad enough to threaten farmland tied to data center development and its required power infrastructure.
State Sen. Brian Chavez called data centers a “public necessity,” a framing landowners fear could make it easier to justify forced land takings.
