Indianapolis group will examine data centers, propose regulations
Indianapolis officials created a City-County committee to study data centers and recommend zoning regulations for future developments. A moratorium on new data centers in Marion County runs through the end of 2027, but it does not affect three previously approved projects by DC BLOX, Metrobloks and Sabey.
Indianapolis officials have formed a City-County committee to examine the public health, environmental, fiscal and infrastructure effects of data center development and develop regulations for future projects. The committee will consider standards for building size and height, noise, environmental impacts, generator testing and electronic waste disposal, with public testimony planned during the zoning process.
The committee was created under a Marion County moratorium approved by the Indianapolis City-County Council and enacted by the Metropolitan Development Commission. Planning firm MKSK will lead the work with the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute as its primary research partner. The moratorium is scheduled to remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2027, while officials expect a proposed zoning ordinance by late summer of that year.
The pause follows more than a year of controversy, including protests, lawsuits and concerns about neighborhood impacts. It does not apply to the three data center projects already approved in Marion County: DC BLOX in Warren Township, Metrobloks in Martindale-Brightwood and Sabey in Decatur Township.