INDIANA — White County on Monday, Oct. 20 became the latest Indiana community to halt data center development, approving a moratorium after months of public opposition and uncertainty surrounding a proposed project near Wolcott.
The county joins Marshall and Putnam counties in pausing such projects as residents voice concerns about water resources, land use and limited transparency from developers. The vote followed repeated delays on a rezoning request for nearly 300 acres in an industrial park.
County officials said the fast-evolving nature of data center technology requires additional time to review potential impacts. Opponents of the moratorium argued the county has yet to complete similar reviews on existing pauses for wind and solar projects.
Nearly 80% of Indiana counties have blocked wind or solar developments in recent years. Data centers now represent the newest flashpoint in a broader struggle between local governments and state leaders who want to expand energy and technology infrastructure. Indiana’s 2019 tax incentives have drawn interest from major data center developers and state officials have increasingly promoted the facilities as essential for economic growth and national competitiveness in artificial intelligence…