WARRICK COUNTY, Ind. (WEVV) — Warrick County officials have released new details following a preliminary meeting regarding a potential massive data center development in the northern part of the county, currently known as “Project Zora.”
On July 30, the Warrick County Commissioners, county legal counsel, and economic development representatives held an executive session with the project’s development team. County officials stressed that the meeting was strictly informational, no votes or commitments were made, and consistent with previous statements, the Commissioners refused to sign a nondisclosure or confidentiality agreement.
Based on preliminary information provided by the Project Zora development team, the county outlined the following details regarding the proposal:
- The Scope: Developers claim to have approximately 1,200 acres of mostly reclaimed mine land under project control in northern Warrick County.
- The Footprint: The preliminary concept anticipates developing about 300 acres, leaving the remaining 900 acres undeveloped to serve as a buffer from surrounding properties. Developers claim the facility will not be visible from major roads.
- The Timeline: The development team states it has an agreement with a prospective end-user and expects to publicly identify them by the end of 2026. However, developers say they will not submit any permit applications to Warrick County before January 2027.
- Due Diligence: The project remains in the due-diligence stage. Studies are underway regarding environmental impact, water supply, grid and electrical demand, coal mine subsidence risks, traffic, and noise. The county is not paying for these studies but will request they be shared with the public.
County officials emphasized that none of the developers’ claims have been independently verified. The county has not determined if existing water, electric, or road infrastructure can support the facility, or if taxpayers would face additional costs…