Michigan City considers data center moratorium as Project Maize continues construction 

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. -- As Michigan City approaches the one-year anniversary of approving a data center project backed by Google, city leaders are considering a temporary pause on future data center developments.

The Michigan City Common Council discussed a proposed data center moratorium during its Tuesday meeting, as residents voiced concerns about the potential environmental and health impacts of the industry.

Several residents spoke during public comment, raising concerns about air quality, chemicals they said are associated with data centers and what they described as a lack of research before the current project was approved.

The proposed moratorium would not apply to the current data center project, known as Project Maize.

Councilman-at-large Bryant Dabney said he would not support attempting to halt the existing project.

“We’ve already collected permitting fees from the building of the current center,” Dabney said. “That would kind of be a breach of contract.”

Instead, Dabney said the moratorium would give the city an opportunity to gather information about how the existing data center operates before considering additional projects.

“We’re collecting real information on how that data center works,” Dabney said. “So we’re no longer talking about the way things happen in other places, but here in Michigan City.”

The proposed ordinance does not currently establish an indefinite timeline for the moratorium.

Dabney said he would like the moratorium to remain in place for at least one year after the facility receives its certificate of operation.

“I’ve been told it’s going to open in 2027, so that would mean a year would be 2028,” Dabney said. “I’d like to see a year of operation.”

The ordinance was referred to the Planning and Zoning Committee for further discussion. It is scheduled for a second reading at the Michigan City Common Council’s Sept. 15 meeting.