‘A slice of the AI pie’: Tippecanoe County debates how big is too big for data centers
Tippecanoe County commissioners considered an ordinance establishing new requirements for large data centers based on power use, acreage and building size. Residents supported stronger limits, including an 80-megawatt cap, while separate speakers urged a one-year moratorium on large battery energy storage projects.
The Tippecanoe County Board of Commissioners considered Unified Zoning Ordinance Amendment 129, which would regulate large data centers without banning them. Facilities using more than 2 megawatts, occupying more than 20 acres or exceeding 20,000 square feet would face additional requirements, including an independently conducted noise study subject to approval by the Area Plan Officer. The Area Planning Committee previously recommended approval of the amendment.
West Lafayette resident Kenny McCleary argued that the proposal should include an 80-megawatt maximum to limit pressure on the county's electricity system and other resources. County officials clarified that the 2-megawatt threshold classifies a facility as large but does not cap its power use. Separately, residents asked commissioners to impose a one-year moratorium on large battery energy storage projects while officials study safety and emergency-response concerns.