We can see the daily impact that date centers are having on our state and our country. We see and hear testimony after testimony of citizens who have already experienced the train wrecks these data centers have brought to their communities.
As we contemplate the best way to prepare for the possibility of future developers trying to locate in Shelby County, I think this one question needs to be addressed by our county commissioners.
Do we let data center developers into unincorporated Shelby County, thinking we can control them once their buildings are built and operational?
Or do we ban them from coming to Shelby County at all?
While I give praise to the folks on the advisory group and the county plan commission for all of the time and effort put in to develop an ordinance establishing guidelines and restrictions on any data center developer interested in locating here, I want to express my concern that once data centers are built and operational, any fines and/or penalties for non-compliance, will not be a deterrent but handled as any other business expense.
I believe the state has set a limit on penalties for violations at $7,500. I also believe that setting stricter standards for data centers compared to other potential incoming industries and manufacturing operations could make local government vulnerable to discrimination lawsuits.
Commissioner Jason Abel was quoted in TSN and he said, any time there is a moratorium that causes some flags to be raised in the state legislature. I believe his concern was that strict regulations, or even a ban, could cause the state to try and take control of data centers away from the counties.
I definitely support keeping local control and county sovereignty here in Shelby County where it belongs and not at the Indiana Statehouse. What good is having county sovereignty and the authority to control the development of Shelby County is you voluntarily surrender that control for fear of losing it when you need to use it to protect Shelby County?
I pray that God gives our county commissioners, David Lawson, Nathan Runnebohm and Jason Abel, the strength and resolve to exercise the authority to protect the unincorporated Shelby County from the data center train wrecks we see blitzing their way through our nation!
We need their leadership now, more than ever!
Pass an ordinance banning data centers while we still can!
Michael Carpenter
429 W. 400 South
Shelbyville, Indiana
