Proposed Indianapolis data center rules move forward amid protest

Proposed Indianapolis data center rules move forward amid protest

Indianapolis' first attempt to set uniform rules for data center development is moving forward despite passionate calls to hit pause on the process.

Why it matters: The city has approved multiple controversial data centers in the past few months with no dedicated zoning category governing them.

  • Wednesday's hotly contested Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission (MDC) vote was a labored first step toward changing that for future projects.

    • Zoom in: Following an hourlong protest outside and more than 90 minutes of discussion inside, the MDC approved the Department of Metropolitan Development's (DMD) proposed data center zoning regulations in a 5-3 vote, which drew loud boos and bursts of profanity from the crowd.

    Here is some of what changed between the April draft and the advancing version.

    πŸ”Š Noise: The original cap was a general 65 decibels β€” comparable to a normal conversation or busy street β€” "at all hours" at the property line.

  • The amended draft lowered that level to 55 decibels, but the MDC settled on a more specific maximum of 65 dBA while stressing the need for experts to assess frequency noise produced by the facilities.

    • πŸ“ Distance: The original buffer of 200 feet between a data center's main building and the property line of a "protected district" was extended to 400 feet.

  • Members of the public t at the hearing proposed a buffer of 1,500 fee, pointing to the city of Valparaiso proposing setback of 1,000 feet, but the MDC did not present an amendment to extend the distance.

    • πŸ“ƒ Annual reporting: The amended version adds the requirement of a formal annual compliance report and a public-facing online dashboard showing monthly electric and water consumption, peak use and generator testing dates.

    Yes, but: Neither version applies retroactively to Indianapolis neighborhood data centers in the pipeline.

  • The rules would apply if an existing data center sought to expand.

    • DMD director Megan Vukusich speaks during Wednesday's data center vote before the Metropolitan Development Commission.

    The other side: Critics including City-County Councilor Jesse Brown said instead of creating guidelines, the city should be pursuing a moratorium, like the symbolic pause unanimously supported by the council in May.

  • Protesters said the current plan fails to address data center size requirements, long-term environmental impacts, training plans for local departments in the event of a fire and the impact low frequency sound production could have on residents with special needs.
  • "Do not let the people of Indianapolis think you're nothing but a bunch of crooks," said Brown, who helped organize the pre-vote protest. "You have to show people that you care."

    • What they're saying: Commission leaders stressed the importance of not delaying the vote for another month. But MDC member Brent Lyle suggested that slowing down was the right move.

  • "The symbolic gesture from the City-County Council on moratoriums, I think, speaks to this exact moment that we're in right now," Lyle said. "There is a lot of fervor about this, and we just went over dozens of different suggestions in this room today."
  • "In lieu of … the idea of presenting an amendment to an amendment that we haven't even seen written yet, I love that we pause this conversation."

    • What's next: The amended proposal will be introduced Monday to the full City-Council Council.

  • It will go to the Metropolitan Economic Development Committee for a public hearing on July 13.
  • If there are no additional delays, the council will make a final vote on Aug. 10.

    • City-County Councilor Jesse Brown speaks during Wednesday's data center vote before the Metropolitan Development Commission.