Elkhart city council to consider data center proposal moratorium

ELKHART, Ind. -- The Elkhart city council is considering a moratorium on data center proposals that would last for more than a year.

Mayor Rod Roberson says this pause is necessary for city officials to "do their due diligence."

"We want to make sure that we don't have any ill effects for residents and any concerns from citizens in relation to data centers in Elkhart," said Elkhart Mayor Rod Roberson.

Data centers have been a hot topic in all over Michiana.

Monday night, the Elkhart city council is discussing a proposal for a moratorium on potential data center pitches - which would last until the end of 2027.

"The council did a straw poll to determine whether or not they would like to stop or review data centers and battery storage centers in a more detailed fashion, in which case, to cover that discovery with the moratorium so they did a straw poll, and it came up and pretty much, the majority came up that they wanted a moratorium through December 31, 2027," said Mayor Roberson.

Mayor Roberson says projects have been proposed - but nothing has been concrete or has been advanced.

He also says data centers presented to Bristol and Cass County would likely not be the same as a potential Elkhart data center.

"The council has ensured that they want us to do the study and due diligence on it and I agree with that, we want to make sure that there aren't safety issues, there have been concerns with noise, there have been concerned with vibrations, there have been environmental concerns, concerns with energy, with water, all of those things have to do with the size, the type, the purpose of the data center. So, at this point, we don't know exactly what those things are and how they'd impact Elkhart until that process has been done."

Throughout ABC57'S interview, Mayor Roberson emphasized several times that business and financial growth are both important - but they pale in comparison to the health and safety of those in Elkhart.

"Yes, you will miss opportunities for investment along the way due to the pause, but the pause is being done for all the right reasons, so if it's done right, that opportunity will be there for Elkhart, beyond the moratorium and for years to come, if indeed it is the right opportunity for the city of Elkhart," said Mayor Roberson.

The council plans to advance the moratorium for further discussion on Thursday.