Fulton County putting a pause on Data Center development

FULTON COUNTY, Ind. -- Fulton County commissioners voted Tuesday night to impose a 12-month moratorium on new data centers, pausing potential development as officials study the impact of such projects on the community.

The decision comes as Decennial Group, which operates a data center in Hammond, has expressed interest in purchasing land in Akron for a proposed hyperscale data center.

The meeting, held at the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, drew a full house of residents who spoke during a special session focused on data center development. In January, the Fulton County Council moved to amend a recent change to zoning ordinances that would allow industrial builds in agricultural-zoned areas.

During Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting, attendees were given two minutes each to voice their opinions. Many residents called for a moratorium while the county considers Decennial Group’s proposal and studies potential environmental and infrastructure impacts.

Some residents questioned how quickly the project appeared to be moving and raised concerns about water usage and other resources. Some argued more research is needed before moving forward.

After about three hours of discussion, commissioners voted six to one to approve a 12-month moratorium on data centers and to establish a committee to conduct further research before allowing any such industrial development in the county.