Over Half of Indiana Counties Restrict Data Center Development
More than 50 Indiana counties have implemented bans or moratoriums on data centers due to concerns over water, electricity, and environmental costs.
At least 50 Indiana counties, representing over half the state, have implemented restrictions on data center development. According to the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute, this marks a significant increase from approximately 30 communities in July. The current restrictions consist of 32 moratoriums, 14 regulatory ordinances, and four outright bans, with Marshall County recently making its ban permanent.
Therese Dorau, Assistant Director for Climate Policy and Implementation at the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute, noted that an increasing number of moratoria are becoming permanent decisions through updated zoning codes or local policies. Local officials are questioning whether long-term job creation outweighs the environmental costs, specifically citing massive electricity and water consumption, noise, and air pollution.
These local restrictions clash with state-level efforts to attract tech giants like Meta, Amazon, and Google through tax breaks. In Monrovia, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved a $737.3 million plan for AES Indiana to power a Google project. While Google intends to cover all costs, critics express concern that $74 million in transmission upgrades will eventually be passed to customers. Recent local actions include a ban approved by Starke County on October 19 and a moratorium in Marion County that extends through 2027.
