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Public urges moratorium on data centers; commissioners and staff point to pending state bills
Summary
During public comment, a resident urged a one‑year moratorium on data centers in LaPorte County citing energy and water concerns; commissioners cited House Bill 1333 as a state-level measure that could remove local review authority and encouraged residents to contact state senators.
A resident and several commissioners used the Feb. 4 LaPorte County meeting to raise concerns about data centers and recent state legislation affecting local control.
Gary Metcalfe, a county resident, told the board, "maybe we should think of a 1 year moratorium on all data centers in La Porte County," and urged the commissioners to examine where data centers should be sited, how they are funded and whether they should be permitted in unincorporated county areas.
Commissioner Joe Haney (as recorded in the meeting) said attendees should contact their state senators about a recently passed House bill he cited as "House Bill 1333," which, he said, contains language that could limit local review of projects designated under certain soil‑quality provisions. Haney urged residents to pursue changes at the State House to preserve local authority over siting and permitting.
Meeting discussion also included complaints about electricity rate increases (NIPSCO) and a call for more rigorous oversight of energy and water use by large facilities. Commissioners did not enact any local moratorium at the meeting; they encouraged constituents to follow up with state legislators and said staff will continue to monitor relevant bills.
The meeting record included several references to state legislation and committee actions; the board chair gave a summary of bills and committee outcomes during the closing report but did not adopt formal county policy on data centers during the session.
