Amazon data center plans in Trenton, Ohio, have entered a new phase after property owners withdrew their annexation petition. The withdrawal affects approximately 601 acres across Madison and St. Clair townships in Butler County. The proposed development carries an estimated $5 billion investment and could create a major hyperscale construction campus near Cincinnati.
The withdrawal came ahead of a planned Butler County public hearing on the annexation. The hearing had been scheduled for September 15, according to local reporting.
However, the project has not been formally cancelled. The petitioners have asked county commissioners to move the hearing to a regular meeting on or after November 10. They also reserved the right to submit another annexation petition later.
Amazon data center faces a changed approval pathway
The proposed 601-acre Amazon data center would occupy largely undeveloped land south of Trenton. The site lies along Wayne Madison Road and Hawkins Road, near Augspurger Road and the Great Miami River.
Amazon Web Services reportedly plans 18 data center buildings across the property. Each building would cover approximately 220,000 square feet. Together, the buildings could provide about 3.96 million square feet of data center space.
The location also sits near major power infrastructure. That includes a Duke Energy substation and the utility’s 692MW Madison Power natural-gas plant.
Meanwhile, Trenton had already advanced annexation preparations during the summer. City records identified approximately 601.589 acres within Madison and St. Clair townships.
On August 6, Trenton City Council approved resolutions concerning the proposed annexation. Those resolutions addressed city services and consented to the annexation process. The latest withdrawal therefore pauses the land-use process rather than ending the proposed construction scheme.
The proposed $5 billion campus would add to Ohio’s growing concentration of large-scale data center developments. Construction activity is also continuing on Meta’s Prometheus Data Center in the state, highlighting the broader expansion of hyperscale infrastructure across Ohio.
Amazon data center awaits next development decision
The withdrawal also comes as Trenton prepares for a November vote concerning large data centers.
A citizen-backed ballot measure would prohibit data centers using 25 megawatts or more within city limits. The measure is scheduled for the November 3, 2026 election.
The proposed Amazon campus has therefore become closely connected to broader planning questions surrounding data center development.
Still, neither Trenton nor the property owners have stated that the November vote caused the withdrawal. WCPO reported that the petitioners have not publicly identified the reason for withdrawing.
For construction planning, the project’s next major step remains uncertain. The petitioners could revive the annexation process after November 10.
Earlier project documentation also indicates that Trenton has examined transportation impacts associated with the development. A February 2026 traffic study identified Arnold Brown Industrial Drive as the principal development access.
The study projected a three-year development period and identified 2028 as the anticipated build year.
However, those planning documents do not establish that construction has started. The current project remains in the proposed development and approval stage.
The annexation withdrawal leaves the $5 billion proposal in a holding pattern while Trenton approaches its November vote. The reserved right to refile leaves a potential pathway for the campus to return to the approval process.
Also read: $360M Samsung Floating Data Center, 50MW Offshore AI Infrastructure Set for 2028 Launch
Project Fact Sheet
Project: Proposed Amazon Web Services data center campus
Value: Approximately $5 billion
Location: Trenton, Butler County, Ohio, United States
Site area: Approximately 601 acres
Legal annexation area: Approximately 601.589 acres
Land jurisdictions: Madison Township and St. Clair Township
Planned buildings: 18 data center buildings
Approximate building size: 220,000 square feet each
Planned data center space: Approximately 3.96 million square feet
Primary roads near site: Wayne Madison Road and Hawkins Road
Nearby infrastructure: Duke Energy substation and 692MW Madison Power plant
Current status: Proposed development with annexation proceedings withdrawn
Next annexation step: Petitioners requested a hearing on or after November 10
Future option: Petitioners reserved the right to refile
Expected build period: Three years, according to the February 2026 traffic study
Anticipated build year: 2028, according to the traffic study
Planned access: Arnold Brown Industrial Drive
Emergency access: Woodsdale Road
Political planning issue: November 3, 2026 ballot measure concerning large data centers
Project Team
Developer/end user: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Landowners/petitioners: Owners of approximately 601.589 acres seeking annexation
Municipal authority: City of Trenton, Ohio
County authority: Butler County Board of Commissioners
Township jurisdictions: Madison Township and St. Clair Township
Power infrastructure: Duke Energy facilities located near the proposed campus
Transportation planning: Project Mila traffic study team
Construction contractor: Not publicly identified
Engineering contractor: Not publicly identified
Architect: Not publicly identified
General contractor: Not publicly identified
Construction manager: Not publicly identified
Leave a Reply