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Large turnout urges Warrick County to impose two‑year moratorium and stricter rules on data centers
Summary
Dozens of residents urged the commissioners to adopt a two‑year moratorium or stricter ordinance on data centers, citing water use, tonal noise, light pollution, decommissioning and limited local jobs; county attorney said no application is currently before the commissioners and the ordinance will go to the APC first.
A large group of Warrick County residents used the June 8 public‑comment period to urge commissioners to adopt a two‑year moratorium or strengthen an upcoming ordinance regulating data centers, battery storage and large solar projects. Speakers raised concerns about water and electricity use, low‑frequency (tonal) noise, light pollution, decommissioning and long‑term land impacts, and questioned anticipated local economic benefits.
County attorney Cliff opened the topic by reiterating that no specific data‑center application has been filed with the county and that an ordinance establishing conditions for data centers will be considered first by the Area Plan Commission (projected July 13) before returning to the commissioners. He also reminded attendees of a three‑minute limit on public remarks.
Speakers called for time to study data‑center impacts in other jurisdictions and for legally enforceable protections. Barton Heath asked the commissioners to “implement a moratorium on data centers... to give us time to understand what's happening, where they are, what utilities they're going to use.” Britney Persley urged standards to address tonal and low‑frequency noise, required developer‑funded acoustic testing, and mandatory decommissioning plans with financial assurances so taxpayers are not left with cleanup costs.
Multiple speakers — including Ted Mezer, Andy Howard, Irene Fuller, Steve Moore, Sally Herren and others — said data centers bring limited long‑term local employment, can raise utility rates, create heat‑island and air/water quality concerns, and can lead to permanent land‑use changes. Joshua Ashby, a retired disaster planner, said data centers require specialized emergency‑response planning and supported a pause to gather data from other communities.
Commissioners and county staff repeatedly said the county is gathering information and that the APC will vet ordinance language; no formal policy was adopted by the board at the meeting. Several speakers requested a written, county‑level two‑year moratorium while staff and the APC develop legally enforceable standards. The commission adjourned after the public‑comment period concluded.
