Boone County considering data center moratorium

Boone County government is considering a moratorium on data centers. The county’s Area Plan Commission voted May 6 to recommend a moratorium to the Boone County Commissioners. If approved, the moratorium would prevent any data center project in the unincorporated parts of the county for one year. Municipalities like Zionsville, Whitestown and Lebanon have their own board that make these decisions. Plan Commission President John Merson said the one-year pause is meant to help the county finish its comprehensive plan. “We just want to get ahead of these projects that might encroach on the rural lifestyle and rural atmosphere,” Merson told Current. Merson said he expected the proposal to be heard at the commissioner’s May 18 meeting. Eleven counties in Indiana have moratoriums, with most being for one year, according to information shared at the May 6 meeting. Marshall and Cass counties have banned data centers outright. “My personal opinion is we need to just ban data centers in the unincorporated parts of Boone County,” Merson told the commission. Plan commission attorney Bob Clutter suggested a moratorium to give county officials time to research a ban. Merson also said a moratorium would give time to consider if all data centers should be banned or just certain types, such as larger ones. “We want to be careful we don’t actually discourage something we need in the county,” he said. Commission members deliberated over if the state would try to push data centers and prevent communities from prohibiting them. “I don’t think wringing our hands and hiding in the corner is the solution,” Merson said, recalling the origins of the LEAP district and how the county considered a sewer and water district but ended up not pursuing it out of concerns of being sued. No one spoke against the moratorium, but a couple did support the effort, including county resident Victoria Wessler. “I do not believe we should leave the fate of our community to the fear about whether or not someone from the state is going to mandate something later,” she said. Merson said he doesn’t think the rural areas of Boone County have the infrastructure to support data centers. Related posts: No related posts. Share. Tumblr