Merrillville council extends data center moratorium by 6 months
The Merrillville Town Council unanimously voted to extend its moratorium on data center projects by six months, pushing the end date to January 1, 2028. This decision follows an initial one-year moratorium and reflects ongoing local and statewide discussions on data center regulations due to public controversy and advocacy.
The Merrillville Town Council in Indiana has unanimously voted to extend its moratorium on data center projects by an additional six months, pushing the new end date to January 1, 2028. This decision means developers interested in building data centers in Merrillville will have to wait longer before approaching the council for project approvals. The extension was proposed by Councilman Shawn Pettit, D-6, and received audience applause, indicating continued public interest and concern.
The council initially imposed a one-year moratorium on May 26, following public informational meetings and previous controversy surrounding data centers. The original moratorium was set to run from June 1 through May 31, 2027. This move aligns Merrillville with a broader trend in Indiana, where various government entities are pausing data center development.
The Citizens Action Coalition, along with 26 other public interest organizations across Indiana, advocated in May for local governments to enact such moratoriums. Their goal is to provide more time for local governments to establish policies and regulations aimed at protecting residents from potential impacts of data center development.
Thirteen Indiana counties, including Fulton, Marshall, and Starke, have already implemented data center moratoriums. Additionally, the Valparaiso City Council recently voted to amend a proposed data center moratorium ordinance and directed its Plan Commission to hold a public hearing on the matter, further demonstrating a statewide cautious approach to data center expansion.