Indianapolis committee hears warnings on data centers’ energy, water and community impacts as residents urge moratorium

Chairman Barth convened the Indianapolis City Environmental Sustainability Committee on Jan. 30 for an informational session about data centers, their environmental footprint and possible local policy responses. Presenters from environmental organizations and national laboratories outlined the scale of modern data centers and the policy choices facing city officials.

Rebecca DeColstein, climate and energy senior adviser at the Hoosier Environmental Council, told the committee that state incentives and limited statewide guidance have created a “wild west” for data center siting and that local governments are often left to respond. “We are operating today in sort of the wild west, without strong safeguards, without a real understanding from a policy perspective of these impacts,” she said, urging transparent public notice, independent impact studies and enforceable community protections.

Speakers described the energy and water scales that…