Indianapolis Bans New Data Centers Until 2028 as Backlash Spreads

Indianapolis has joined several other cities and states in pausing or restricting construction of new data centers.The Department of Metropolitan Development, which serves both Indianapolis and surrounding Marion County, approved a measure to pause construction of new centers until the end of 2027. This is just a few days after Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed new restrictions against "speculative, irresponsible" data center projects. Several other cities including Greensboro, NC, and Chesapeake, VA, announced their own restrictions.They're part of a growing backlash against the large industrial projects that are increasingly coming to American neighborhoods, bringing worries of noise, pollution, and demands on power and water along with them.The Metropolitan Development Commission said the moratorium will allow it time to further study how to integrate such projects into the city without harm on its existing infrastructure."The moratorium provides time for additional community engagement, technical research, and the development of reasonable and responsible zoning regulations for data center users," it said. "During the moratorium period, applications for land use or permitti...