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Last Update: 10/27/2026 at 5:34 AM EST
Indianapolis Data Center Siting
Coverage from Indianapolis Star, Mirror Indy, and others
In Indianapolis and Marion County, data-center proposals have brought zoning rules, local approvals, and community participation into focus.
Residents and officials have debated how to address campus size, building height, noise, water and electricity use, and environmental effects while weighing development’s investment and construction jobs. The process has involved the City-County Council and Metropolitan Development Commission, as well as projects by DC Blox, Sabey Data Centers, and Metrobloks. A local pause on new development created a period for residents and experts to inform future zoning decisions, while previously approved projects were allowed to proceed.
Looking Back
144 Day Timeline
May 8
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All Articles81 articles
Important
Jacob Stewart criticized Indianapolis planned a data center moratorium, saying special-use zoning would better provide elected accountability, clearer approval standards, and community influence.
7/13/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Indianapolis city-county councilors voted Aug. 10 to impose a data-center moratorium through 2027, pending Metropolitan Development Commission approval.
8/11/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Indianapolis residents and advocates urged the City-County Council on August 10 to pause new Marion County data center development through 2027.
8/9/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
The Indianapolis City-County Council is scheduled to vote August 10 on a proposed moratorium covering new data centers in Indianapolis.
8/8/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Investigators found that Indiana officials and developers used non-disclosure agreements to limit public information about data center projects during zoning and permitting decisions across the state.
9/19/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton paused new data center approvals for one year in Gary, Indiana, citing grid reliability, water, infrastructure, and community concerns.
9/18/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Fort Wayne officials are considering a 365-day pause on new data center approvals in Indiana while city planners develop local development standards.
9/8/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
DC Blox received Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission approval on July 15, 2026, to build a two-building campus at Thunderbird Commerce Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.
7/20/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Indianapolis officials approved DC Blox's July 15, 2026 data center campus near Irvington, despite months of school-area opposition and a separate moratorium proposal.
7/15/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
In Indianapolis, a council committee advanced a moratorium on new data center approvals through Dec. 31, 2027, while DC Blox faces an upcoming variance vote.
7/14/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Indianapolis City-County councilors advanced a Marion County data center construction moratorium on Aug. 10 planning for a pause ending no later than Dec. 31, 2027, after committee public comment and ordinance-definition planning.
7/13/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Indianapolis City-County Council President Maggie Lewis plans a July 13 moratorium on new data center approvals as zoning regulations advance.
7/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Indianapolis City-County Council will consider a new-data-center development moratorium next Monday after Council President Maggie Lewis proposes a zoning amendment amid community opposition.
7/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Indianapolis City-County Council President Maggie A. Lewis proposed a temporary moratorium on new data center construction for a July 13 committee hearing.
7/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Maggie Lewis proposed a temporary pause on new data center approvals in Indianapolis ahead of a committee vote on a new zoning district Monday.
7/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
New Albany and other Southern Indiana municipalities in Clark and Floyd counties are considering data center moratoriums and zoning updates as AI demand raises concerns about power, water, and local impacts.
7/9/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
DC Blox reduced an Indianapolis East Gate data center proposal after community opposition, moving a use variance request to a July 15 Metropolitan Development Commission vote.
7/9/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Indiana residents protested in Indianapolis on Feb. 26, 2026 as local moratoriums spread and a proposal for a federal AI data center moratorium bill advanced in Congress.
7/7/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Indianapolis commissioners advanced a special data-center zoning district Wednesday, adding noise, water, and electricity guardrails after residents opposed a proposed moratorium.
7/1/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development will seek Marion County approval for a July 1, 2026 hearing on stricter data center zoning that increases setbacks and lowers noise.
6/26/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Indianapolis City-County Council approved a May 4 resolution urging a temporary pause on new data center approvals while draft zoning rules are reviewed by June 3.
5/18/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Indianapolis City-County Council scheduled public hearings on May 20 to consider SU-47 zoning and operating standards for data centers after passing a moratorium resolution.
5/15/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Michigan City Council tabled a proposed data center moratorium on Tuesday in Michigan City, Indiana, delaying restrictions while city officials review zoning regulations.
9/19/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Kokomo Common Council advanced an amended data-center zoning ordinance on first reading in Kokomo, Indiana, despite public opposition and unresolved concerns about utility use and quality-of-life impacts.
8/31/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Warrick County commissioners will consider proposed data-center zoning amendments on August 11, 2026, at a public meeting in Newburgh, Indiana.
7/31/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Metropolitan Development Commission approved DC Blox's Indianapolis east-side data center use variance on July 15, 2026, amid proposed Marion County moratorium and resident opposition.
7/15/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Irvington Community Schools and Indianapolis residents sued DC Blox over a proposed data center near Irvington Community Elementary at a former Ford site in Indianapolis.
9/19/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
St. Joseph County Council will vote September 22 in Indiana on a zoning resolution that would ban new hyperscale data centers amid disputes over water use, jobs, and electricity rates.
9/16/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Posey County commissioners and Area Plan Commission members face a Monday hearing after residents ask for a two-year moratorium on potential data centers near Boberg and Hoenert roads.
7/21/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Charlestown Indiana plan commission voted 4-3 in 2026 to approve a $105 million QLEVR LLC data center after public testimony and resident opposition.
7/20/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Posey County residents and zoning bodies in Indiana review Unified Development Ordinance amendments for data center rules as residents raise fire, air, and water concerns.
7/13/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Indianapolis residents opposed a planned DC BLOX data center at Irvington Presbyterian Church before Monday zoning framework review and a Wednesday zoning variance discussion.
7/12/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
We Make Indiana is pressing Microsoft for a binding community-benefits fund for its Granger data center in St. Joseph County, Indiana, as construction is expected to begin this fall.
9/28/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Indiana officials and water managers discussed data-center water use, siting, and utility planning during the Indiana Water Summit in Indianapolis amid flood recovery.
8/28/2026 • Water & Cooling • General
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission approved a data center moratorium on August 19, 2026, at the City-County Building in Indianapolis, covering new Marion County developments through 2027.
8/20/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission voted unanimously on Aug. 19, 2026, at the City-County Building to halt new Marion County data center approvals through at least Dec. 31, 2027.
8/19/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Interesting
Backyard Bytes organizers and rural Indiana residents examined hyperscale data center impacts at a Rockville event, citing land demands, infrastructure needs, and community concerns.
9/14/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Meta is building a $1 billion data center in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, while Indiana communities including Delaware County debate infrastructure impacts and proposed approval restrictions.
9/4/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Eastside Community Action plans to seek judicial review by August 14 in Indianapolis after Marion County approved an Irvington data center on July 15.
8/13/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Indiana counties are adopting data center restrictions as communities across the state debate water, power, infrastructure, taxes, and local investment conditions.
8/11/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Miami County commissioners approved data center siting rules in Indiana on July 20 while residents alleged officials had predetermined the vote.
9/14/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Fort Wayne City Council is considering a 365-day moratorium on actions supporting future data center development in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
9/8/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Elkhart City Council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium Thursday on new data center and battery storage applications within the Indiana city while officials develop rules for water, electricity, noise, and land use.
8/28/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Posey County Area Plan Commission gathered public comment in Mount Vernon, Indiana on Unified Development Ordinance amendments tied to a potential data center proposal.
7/27/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Henrietta, New York, proposed incentive zoning rules for data centers after Governor Kathy Hochul imposed a statewide hyperscale freeze.
7/23/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Clarksville Town Council approved zoning ordinances in Indiana that define data centers and prohibit them in all zoning districts.
7/15/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Warrick County officials held an area planning commission meeting in Indiana to review a proposed ordinance regulating AI data center zoning and requirements.
7/14/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Indianapolis City-County Council committee advanced a proposal to pause new data center development in Indianapolis, Indiana, with Mayor Joe Hogsett involved in discussion.
7/14/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Maggie Lewis proposed a temporary pause on new data center developments in Indianapolis during a scheduled zoning rules committee hearing at the City-County Building.
7/12/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Maggie Lewis announced a Monday Marion County moratorium on new data center approvals in Indianapolis while data center zoning rules are reviewed.
7/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Huntington, Indiana officials held a public meeting in August 2026 to plan data-center zoning after a February moratorium delays permits.
7/8/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Indianapolis city officials advanced a special zoning district for data centers on Monday’s agenda after a public meeting featuring local opposition.
7/5/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Indianapolis City Commission advanced a proposal for a special zoning district for data centers in Indianapolis, Indiana, with noise, water, and electricity requirements ahead of city council review.
7/5/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Metropolitan Development Commission in Marion County, Indiana, voted 5-3 to advance special data center zoning rules covering siting, noise limits, and annual energy and water reporting to the City-County Council.
7/1/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Byron G. Stauffer Jr. said Indiana County, Pennsylvania is reviewing SALDO and planning public input before data center proposals, as CRF cites Senate Bill 1357 for a proposed hyperscale moratorium.
6/22/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
DC Blox moved a variance for a proposed 420,000-square-foot data center campus at Thunderbird Commerce Center to a full vote after first approval from Indianapolis' Metropolitan Development Commission.
6/12/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
DC Blox advanced a planned three-building Indianapolis data center on June 11 after a four-hour Metropolitan Development Commission hearing amid neighbor opposition over zoning, power demand, and water use.
6/11/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
DC Blox requested a use variance at a June 11 Metropolitan Development Commission hearing in Indianapolis to build a planned data center campus near Irvington on a brownfield site.
6/11/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
DC Blox sought a use-variance approval for an east Indianapolis data center conversion, with a June 11 hearing examiner recommendation now pending Metropolitan Development Commission final approval.
6/11/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Whitley County Plan Commission holds a June 24, 2026 public listening session on proposed data center zoning regulations in Columbia City, Indiana.
6/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
LaPorte approved a 1,000-acre annexation and Indiana zoning bodies advanced data center siting decisions for Microsoft expansion and a proposed Eagle Creek Township rezoning.
5/23/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
DC Blox hosted a May 21, 2026 Warren Township meeting as residents opposed a $2 billion Indianapolis east-side data center, ahead of a June 11 hearing examiner review.
5/22/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Brevard City Council approved May 18 zoning changes requiring industrial zoning and conditional rezoning for new data centers after a March moratorium.
5/22/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Jefferson County, Indiana scheduled a May 20, 2026 public hearing after issuance of an Improvement Location Permit for a planned hyperscale data center on the former Jefferson Proving Grounds.
5/18/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
On September 16, Indianapolis officials approved $240 million in tax breaks for Sabey Corp.'s proposed data center in Decatur Township amid protests and a citywide moratorium through 2027.
9/17/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Citizens Action Coalition called for an Indiana AI data center moratorium, citing rising utility upgrade costs, power and diesel backup growth, and environmental impacts.
7/8/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission approved a data center moratorium on August 19, 2026, in Indianapolis to study development impacts and revise zoning rules.
8/19/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Michigan City council members introduced an indefinite moratorium on future data centers Tuesday in Michigan City, Indiana, as residents sought safeguards while Google's approved project continues.
9/1/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Posey County commissioners said Tuesday in Mount Vernon that commissioners would oppose a proposed data center near Boberg and Hoenert roads after residents raised land-use and transparency concerns.
8/4/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Hoosier Action and 26 allied organizations in Indiana asked local governments to enact a statewide moratorium on new data center development, citing projected groundwater and cooling impacts.
7/19/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Fort Wayne, Indiana, City Council delayed Russ Jehl’s Data Center & Community Quality of Life Task Force proposal to September to expand protections tied to Google and future data centers.
7/7/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Alex Carroll hosted an Indianapolis tour of Lifeline Data Center amid opposition to DC BLOX, detailing closed-loop cooling water use and an Indiana air-permit citation in May 2026.
6/18/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
DC Blox seeks a $2 billion Indianapolis east-side data center campus as Warren Township residents raise power, noise, water, and brownfield soil concerns ahead of a June 11 hearing.
5/22/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Michael-Paul Hart will tour a DC Blox data center in Atlanta while Indianapolis schedules a June 11 hearing on DC Blox's South Kitley Avenue proposal amid noise and moratorium concerns.
5/9/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Citizens Action Coalition and 27 Indiana organizations asked Evansville and other local governments for an indefinite moratorium on data center development to address permitting and utility cost impacts.
5/8/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Planning and Zoning staff in Dearborn County, Indiana cancelled a July 16 solar, data center, and BESS workshop and plans later public workshops for data center and BESS rules.
7/13/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Indianapolis schedules an Aug. 5 MDC public hearing on $56 million tax abatements for a Metrobloks $250 million data center in Martindale Brightwood after July 15 opposition.
7/27/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Preservation officials cited Section 106 while residents challenged proposed Indiana data-center developments at Jefferson Proving Ground, a former Ford factory, and other historic sites.
7/12/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Charlestown residents challenged a QLEVR, LLC data center proposal at Shadow Lake Industrial Park in advance of an advisory planning commission public hearing next month.
6/15/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Indianapolis officials delayed a Metropolitan Development Commission hearing on Wednesday over a proposed $56 million Metrobloks data center tax break in Brightwood Martindale.
8/4/2026 • Project Finance & Incentives • General
Additional
DC Blox scaled back the Thunderbird Commerce Center data center campus in Indianapolis after resident feedback and power consumption scrutiny, filing a revised plan on March 19.
7/8/2026 • Infrastructure & Site Development • General