Indiana and North Carolina Residents Oppose Data Center Expansion

Residents across multiple regions held community meetings on June 4, 2026, to protest the development of data centers on farmland. In Bristol, Indiana, a crowded Town Council meeting centered on requests for a one-year moratorium on construction. This followed a March decision by the Bristol Town Council to annex nearly 500 acres of farmland. Council President Jeff Beachy stated that no data centers are currently planned and that the land is awaiting rezoning for manufacturing by Elkhart County.

Simultaneously, nearly 100 people gathered in Mount Vernon to advocate for a two-year moratorium in Posey County, Indiana. Organizers cited the permanent loss of agricultural land as a primary concern, though the county area planning commission noted that no official applications have been received.

In Stokes County, North Carolina, over 100 residents questioned the water and power requirements of a proposed facility. The developer, Engineered Land Solutions, was required to hold this meeting after county commissioners voided a previous approval due to challenges from environmental advocates. CEO Drew Nations defended the project, citing potential new tax revenue.