Indianapolis data center moratorium put on hold

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A City-County Council proposal to ban new applications for data center developments in Indianapolis and the rest of Marion County until 2028 was put on hold Monday night.

An amendment was added to clarify the definition of a data center and what types of facilities would and would not fall under the moratorium.

The proposal will return to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission for consideration.

If a moratorium is approved, city staff would work with a committee of experts and community members to finalize development standards for data centers. The review could cover building heights, footprints, sound levels, and electronic waste disposal plans.

The next full meeting of the Metropolitan Development Commission is set for 1 p.m. Aug. 19. The council’s next meeting is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 14. Both meetings will be in the City-County Building.

At the state level, Indiana officials have welcomed data centers through aggressive sales tax exemptions and economic development pushes. But at the local level, some communities have strongly pushed back. Anxiety over massive electricity and water demands has led nearly a third of Indiana’s 92 counties to enact temporary moratoriums or outri...