Tippecanoe APC to vote on large data center ordinance
The Tippecanoe County Area Plan Commission is scheduled to vote on a revised ordinance regulating large data centers in the Greater Lafayette area. The proposed rules would impose property setbacks, require closed-loop cooling and existing water and wastewater providers, and mandate that 80% of on-site energy come from renewable sources.
The Tippecanoe County Area Plan Commission will meet at Lafayette City Hall to consider Unified Zoning Ordinance Amendment 127, a revised framework for large data centers exceeding 20 acres or 20,000 square feet. The vote was delayed from the commission’s Sept. 16 meeting and will follow public discussion and comment.
The proposed ordinance would require large data centers to be at least 1,320 feet from private property lines, include a 60-foot tree buffer, and maintain 20 miles of separation from existing large data centers, including facilities outside Tippecanoe County. It would also require closed-loop cooling, use of existing water and wastewater providers, and renewable sources for at least 80% of on-site energy.