Marshall County Commissioners enact permanent ban on data centers, strict limits on solar and battery storage

Marshall County Commissioners in Indiana have voted to permanently ban data centers and implement stringent new regulations for large-scale solar farms and battery energy storage systems. This decisive action, effective immediately, supersedes a prior one-year moratorium on data centers and industrial-scale solar developments, and county leaders believe it may be the first permanent data center ban of its kind in Indiana. Commissioner Jesse Bohannon stated on GIANT fm WTCA that the county has been working for 18 months to protect its residents, noting widespread interest across the state in these types of developments. In addition to the data center ban, commissioners adopted an ordinance requiring a strict 1,320-foot setback for Battery Energy Storage Systems from adjoining property lines. Commission President Stan Klotz cited safety concerns, referring to these facilities as potential "HAZMAT sites," and referenced tornado damage at a Wheatfield solar farm as an example of risks. The board also advanced new regulations for large-scale solar farms, proposing a cap of five acres per project, with a final vote scheduled for May 4th. Officials felt existing rules were insufficient to protect agricultural land and county interests, guided by experts from a battery subcommittee. Bohannon suggested future energy development could focus on natural gas or small nuclear reactors, which require less land. Marshall County's comprehensive legislative approach is anticipated to serve as a model for other counties facing similar land-use and development challenges.