Warrick County schedules informational session on data centers as residents, commissioners raise power and water concerns

Warrick County staff told the Board of Zoning Appeals on Nov. 25 that a data-center developer will attend the Area Plan Commission’s Dec. 8 meeting at 6 p.m. for an informational presentation and question-and-answer session. No specific project application had been submitted as of the meeting.

At the BZA session several commissioners and members of the public raised questions about the potential local impacts of data centers, focusing on electricity and water demand, noise and cooling systems, and whether the county’s grid and water infrastructure could support large server facilities. One attendee summarized common concerns: that data centers "use a lot of water and a lot of power," and that employment at some facilities can be modest even as infrastructure demands rise.

Participants discussed the relationship between nearby solar generation and data centers’ grid needs, the potential for battery storage and its disposal challenges, and creative reuse of waste heat — for instance, district heating in colder climates. Staff said the Dec. 8 meeting is informational; commissioners and residents were urged to attend if they want details from the developer and utility representatives. The board did not take any regulatory action at this meeting.