Chillicothe OH data center moratorium, rescinded (2026)

Chillicothe, Ohio (Ross County) City Council. ADOPTED Aug. 24, 2026 as Ordinance 44-26: added to that night's agenda, three-reading rule waived, emergency language so it took effect immediately rather than after 30 days (Scioto Valley Guardian citing the Aug. 24 minutes; Scioto Post). It barred the city from accepting or issuing zoning permits and approvals for new data center uses; term 60 days. RESCINDED Sept. 14, 2026: council voted 8-1 'on Monday' to reconsider and strike the moratorium (Scioto Post, Sept. 15); a Chillicothe Gazette RSS excerpt says the vote was at the Sept. 14 regular meeting and Gunner Barnes was the only member to vote to keep the moratorium (a later Gazette excerpt says Sept. 15; Sept. 14 used, as reported by both Scioto Post articles and the contemporaneous Gazette report). Trigger: a February 2026 city letter to the owner of the former paper mill site indicating a data center appeared to be a permitted use. FOLLOW-UP: the Engineering Committee voted 2-1 (chair Kathy Dunn no, Greg McKeever yes) on Councilman Jeff Creed's motion to move a revised moratorium to the Law Director and council; Creed said it would exclude the Alignment Engine site and specify limits for any data center (100 MW or smaller, own electrical and water supply, self-processed wastewater, sound limits). NOT ESTABLISHED: whether a revised moratorium has been introduced or adopted; individual abstentions on the reconsideration vote (Gazette full text not opened).