Vermillion County Commissioners speak out on data centers

While Vermillion County Commissioners continue to mull over a proposed ordinance that would create a data center overlay district in the county, two of the three Commissioners are making their thoughts known on data centers. 

The expressed feelings come after the Commissioners approved an ordinance last December, designating the Vermillion Rise Mega Park as the designated and preferred location for data center development in the county. In addition, the Rise Board recently presented the Commissioners with a proposed ordinance creating an overlay district and changing the county's Unified Development Ordinance. 

For Commissioner R.J. Dunavan, he spent a portion of the summer hosting listening tours, where he met with residents to get their thoughts, as well as reading up on data centers across the nation, adding he never saw an instance where someone said they enjoyed living next to a data center. 

"Across the United States, I have yet to see a data center development where the community was like, "We like this." My thought is let us be the anomaly. Let Vermillion County set the stage nationally and let us say if you want to be a good community partner, here is our A, B, C and D. I have done a lot of research and the technology is changing so much that a data center built five years ago isn't the same as one being built today," Dunavan told The Parke County Post. 

Dunavan said the community spoke loud and clear about their thoughts on data centers and what they wish to see happen. 

"The community spoke. I think we need to sit down as commissioners and government officials and ask what our parameters are. I think there were over a hundred people in attendance, and that is a small fraction of those who could there. I think you need to listen to them, and I have heard them loud and clear. We want protections and we need to start moving on what that looks like," Dunavan said. 

In addition, he said he wants to see protections in place that protect the citizens of Vermillion County. 

"There is no price at which I am willing to sacrifice the citizens' well-being, and that applies to any development. In good faith, I cannot do that. I want to make sure the noise, lights, water, and electricity will not impact residents and that they are protected," he said.

Commissioner William Peebles has also voiced his thoughts on the notion of data centers coming to Vermillion County. 

Peebles told The Parke County Post any discussion of a data center starts with the Rise Board, in his opinion. 

"I support the process the Rise Board has to go through with any prospective tenants at The Rise. They are volunteers and successful members of our community. I have faith they will do what is right in respect to development at The Rise Mega Park. I am open to hear both sides of the discussion. The community has voiced concerns that I am sure will be included in any discussions or decisions moving forward," Peebles said. 

Peebles said he has 30 grandchildren, and the future of Vermillion County is "paramount" and something he does not take lightly. 

"I do, however, want to see our County as a place of opportunities for them, not just a place where they grew up and had to move away because there was nothing to sustain their families. We have to turn that corner somehow. How do we do it? Blindly saying no would be the easiest way for me to proceed, but that isn't my style. There are a ton of reasons people don't want a data center. The irony of it to me is the research most have done is through the cloud and search engines supported by data centers. I have read to same articles and watched the videos. I have some of the same concerns with any development not just data centers. In closing I support the process, the discussion and the Rise Board. After all it is their responsibility to bring industry to that Industrial Park for a better future for Vermillion County," Peebles said.

Peebles also recently turned to Facebook to drive home his point that development and opportunities need to exist for future generations. 

"I will do what I can to industrialize the industrial park. We need to turn the tide and start giving our young people meaningful options for employment. The three big employers in the county have helped us make and preserve our history. They need a challenge if that's where they want to stay. The grid upgrades that are being done as we speak will strengthen our ability to land long term opportunities. I do have a vision and it has never been to do nothing. There are opportunities and the future is very bright for Vermillion County," Peebles shared on Facebook. 

Dunavan said he has heard about jobs that are associated with a data center, as well as financial windfalls that a community could see. 

"When you look nationwide, depending on the size of a data center campus, you are looking at five to 100 employees. The construction jobs are great, but full time it may be 25 to 50. It's better than no jobs and we are grateful for that. If they can meet all the requirements I would want first and prove they can be a good partner, I think there is a big financial windfall nationwide. You are talking generational wealth for a community, and I think some of these target communities may need that money. The money is great, but I can't sacrifice my residents' well-being. I would say the benefits are the money to your community and the schools, but that is bottom of the list. You have to get through water, power, light mitigation, jobs, noise mitigation and how big is the project," Dunavan said. 

And, should one come, Dunavan says he agrees the Rise property is the "premiere location." 

"I think the Commissioner's view is the RISE is the premiere location for all industrial development but it comes back to we don't want to be in a situation like Sullivan County. We are blessed to have the RISE and we have the ability to put parameters in place. I don't think I have any land in Vermillion County from north to south that a data center would be good at. You don't want to side them next to houses or schools, so the RISE is a 7,000 acre industrial park, and I think it the best place. But, that doesn't mean here is a blank check, I support it 100 percent and just go find one. I think we need to put the protections in place, and the community has made it abundantly clear that is what they want. A development company may say that is too strict, and what I would say to that is, that is what we want. You meet our requirements, and I am speaking for myself, that is my goal -- let's be pro development, but also responsible about it," Dunavan said.