City-County Council calls for ban on data centers as it weighs ordinance proposal

The Indianapolis City-County Council is set to vote on a special resolution proposed by Councilor Jesse Brown that calls for a temporary moratorium on new data center approvals in the city. The resolution urges the Metropolitan Development Commission to pause approvals until May 7, 2027, or until the City-County Council can implement more comprehensive regulations for data center development. This push comes as Indianapolis currently lacks specific zoning regulations for data centers, despite the Department of Metropolitan Development reporting four data center approval requests in the past year. Two projects, one in Martindale-Brightwood and another in Decatur Township, have been greenlit, while plans for sites in Franklin and Pike townships were withdrawn by developers, including one involving American Tower. Opponents of data center proliferation raise concerns about potential negative impacts on public health, the environment, and utility prices. Conversely, proponents highlight the economic development benefits these facilities can bring. Councilor Brown emphasized the need for a pause, suggesting developers wait until the county establishes clear regulations before proceeding. City officials are actively drafting a new zoning ordinance that may introduce noise limits and require developers to submit utility plans for future projects.