Boone County installs one-year data center moratorium
Boone County Commissioners unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data centers in the unincorporated parts of the county. This pause allows officials to review zoning requirements, update the comprehensive plan, and explore a potential permanent ban on data center development. The initiative originated from the plan commission, with public support for a ban.
Boone County Commissioners in Indiana unanimously enacted a one-year moratorium on data center development within the county's unincorporated areas on June 15. The pause will prevent any new data center projects from being proposed or built while county officials review existing planning and zoning requirements and work on updating their comprehensive plan.
Commissioner President Tim Beyer stated the moratorium provides an opportunity to carefully study data center development and ensure policies align with residents' long-term goals. Commissioner Scott Pell affirmed the county's commitment to residents' concerns, acknowledging public sentiment. Discussions during Boone County Area Plan Commission meetings, which initiated the moratorium proposal, included exploring an outright ban on data centers, a sentiment supported by the commission's president, John Merson, and public comments at a June 3 meeting.
It remains unclear if the county will pursue a permanent ban, which would require a vote by the commissioners. Boone County joins at least eleven other counties in Indiana that have implemented data center moratoriums, with Marshall and Cass counties having already enacted outright bans.