Evansville Votes Monday on 180-Day Data-Center Freeze — Permits Would Stop the Same Night
The Evansville City Council is scheduled to vote on Ordinance G-2026-18, which would halt processing of new data-center applications, permits and approvals for 180 days. The proposed freeze would give officials time to study data-center impacts and develop zoning regulations, amid resident concerns about water use, electricity demand and neighborhood effects.
The Evansville City Council is scheduled to hold the second reading of Ordinance G-2026-18 on Oct. 5 at the Civic Center. If approved, the ordinance would immediately stop the city from processing data-center applications, permits and approvals for 180 days, with the possibility of an extension if officials need more time to complete their review.
The proposed pause follows support from the Evansville Area Plan Commission and would allow the city to consider how data centers should be zoned and regulated. Council President Ben Trockman said the measure is intended as a fact-finding period rather than a final rejection of the industry. Vanderburgh County has separately created a study committee and enacted its own moratorium, which city leaders plan to rely on instead of forming a parallel panel.
Residents have raised concerns about data centers’ water consumption, electricity demand, grid-upgrade costs and neighborhood impacts. The Oct. 5 vote is the final scheduled step before the proposed freeze either takes effect or fails.