Posey County residents show united front against data centers
Posey County residents are showing a united front against data centers, attending public meetings to voice concerns about proposed zoning amendments. While no applications have been filed, county officials are working on a Unified Development Ordinance, with residents raising environmental, safety, and water usage issues. The county commission has expressed disinterest in a moratorium, preferring to establish ordinances.
Residents of Posey County, Indiana, turned out in large numbers, many wearing red shirts emblazoned with "No Data Center," to express their strong opposition to data center developments in their community during public meetings on Thursday. The Posey County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) and the Area Plan Commission (APC) had data center items on their agendas, with the APC reviewing about 12 pages of proposed amendments to its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).
According to Joe Marvel, president of the APC, while no formal applications have been submitted, four inquiries have been made regarding zoning for data centers. Residents voiced a range of concerns, including potential impacts on air quality from diesel generators, strain on the local water table leading to dry wells and low water pressure, and the capacity of small-town fire departments to handle complex data center fires, citing a 2025 International Association of Fire Fighters release on the issue.
Some residents questioned why the county has not enacted a moratorium on data center construction, a measure adopted by other communities in the state. However, BZA and APC members clarified that this decision rests with the county commission. County Commissioner Greg Newman, also an APC member, stated the commission's current sentiment is that a moratorium would merely "kick the can down the road," preferring instead to finalize ordinances as quickly as possible.
The proposed UDO amendments include classifications for data center sizes, setback rules, and required documentation. Marvel anticipates one or two special meetings before the amendments proceed to a regular APC meeting for a public hearing, with all proposed changes to be made available online beforehand.