Both candidates for St. Joseph County Council District C call for data center moratorium
Both candidates for St. Joseph County Council District C are advocating for a two-year moratorium on data center development in the county, citing concerns over water and energy usage. This call comes amidst plans for Microsoft to expand its Granger data center and an Amazon Web Services facility operating in New Carlisle. Currently, no moratorium is formally in place, despite the candidates' proposals.
Jamie O'Brien, the Republican candidate for St. Joseph County Council District C, has proposed a two-year moratorium on data center development in the northern part of St. Joseph County, Indiana. His proposal, made at a recent County Council meeting, aims to pause further expansion, specifically mentioning a Microsoft data center in Granger. O'Brien stated the need to observe the unfolding of data center projects, such as the Amazon Web Services facility in New Carlisle, to understand their impact on the quality of life and infrastructure before allowing more development.
Democratic candidate Jan Cervelli also supports a moratorium, having publicly opposed data center developments since early this year and hosted an information session in February. She confirmed meeting with Microsoft representatives who indicated plans for expansion, highlighting the urgency for protective measures.
Both candidates underscore the necessity of assessments before new data center projects or expansions proceed, particularly in light of concerns about water and energy consumption. Brandon Oyer, Director of Power and Water for the Americas for AWS, previously addressed these concerns by stating that their data centers in New Carlisle and St. Joseph County use water for less than 2% of the year. Despite the calls from both candidates, no moratorium has been formally enacted by the St. Joseph County Council, which holds zoning authority for the area.