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Hell yeah
I’m so confused so it’s more politically correct to raise the license plate tax $100 million a year than it is to allow five warehouses with computers that would generate the same hundred million dollars a year because people(maybe paid protestors) scream and yell at public hearings??
100%
Yep, silly. People are clueless
I don’t think you understand how taxes and budgets work.
What’s interesting, is Google identifies 24 existing data centers located in Indianapolis, with 15 providers in those centers.
I have yet to hear any complaints or issues.?
LOL these data centers aren’t paying anything even close to that much in taxes.
UPDATE: MDC wants to give $56 million in tax breaks to the DC Blox data center alone. These COST us money. Get rid of them.
Ah well if Kevin P from the IBJ comments section isn’t aware of any complaints or issues, this must all be a nothing burger! I retract everything I’ve ever said, please build the next data center next door to Kevin P.
Its about time.
That’s our REGRESSIVE city council. Maybe they can pursue buggy whip and horseshoe companies to grow employment. Then again, they don’t need growth; they’ll just raise taxes.
According to Claude AI the one reason many communities eventually become more accepting of data centers than distribution warehouses:
* ✔ Very low traffic after construction
* ✔ No manufacturing emissions
* ✔ No loud industrial processes
* ✔ Minimal outdoor activity
* ✔ Significant property tax revenue
* ✔ High-value infrastructure
You act like these moratoriums aren’t happening across the country, with some conservative STATES passing similar policies. And, Matt, you should ask Claude to cite its sources. Its point about emissions and noise are laughable and easily proven false with an abundance of data available.
Where is the criticism of the many other Indiana counties approving new or increased wheel taxes while at the same time passing data center moratoriums? Could there be partisanship at play here? For shame!
Why are you asking an AI company knowing full well that it will feed you pro-AI data center slop? LOL
This is so disappointing to see. This is how we go back to being Indiana-no-place. Why do we keep listening to the uninformed people who are so easily swayed by propaganda and paid instigators? You can almost draw a straight line from these people to those who supported anti-nuclear hysterics in the 1970s and left us with ponds of coal ash instead. We need leaders who can explain the benefits counteract the disinformation that is out there.
Why don’t you start leading by example? Explain all the benefits with supporting evidence for those of us apparently afflicted by propaganda? Have you considered the possibility that it might be YOU who are propagandized by pro-industry talking points?
Ok, here you go.
Water
A common myth is that data centers consume excessive amounts of water, especially for cooling. While some facilities do use water-based cooling systems, many modern data centers employ closed-loop systems or air cooling to dramatically reduce consumption. In addition, operators are increasingly locating facilities using reclaimed or non-potable water sources. Compared to industries like agriculture or manufacturing, data center water use is relatively modest and continues to decline as technology improves.
Electricity
Data centers are often criticized for their high energy usage. While it is true that they require significant power, they are also among the most efficient and rapidly improving users of electricity. Hyperscale operators are investing in renewable energy, often funding large-scale solar and wind projects that benefit entire regional grids. Many data centers operate with power usage effectiveness (PUE) levels close to 1.1, meaning very little energy is wasted. In many cases, they accelerate the transition to cleaner energy infrastructure.
Employment
Another misconception is that data centers create few jobs. While they may not employ thousands of workers on-site, they generate high-quality, well-paying technical and operational roles. More importantly, they create indirect employment through construction, maintenance, security, and local service industries. Data centers also attract complementary businesses—such as cloud services, AI firms, and tech startups—helping to build broader digital ecosystems in their regions.
Noise
Concerns about constant noise from cooling systems are often overstated. Modern data centers are designed with advanced sound attenuation technologies, including acoustic barriers, strategic building orientation, and quieter equipment. Local regulations also require compliance with strict noise thresholds. In practice, many facilities operate at noise levels comparable to light industrial or even suburban background noise.
Community and Infrastructure Benefits
They provide stable tax revenue without significantly burdening public services like schools or emergency systems. This tax base can support infrastructure improvements, public services, and community development. Additionally, they enhance digital infrastructure, improving connectivity and reliability for businesses and residents alike.
Instead of banning and protesting, we should be negotiating for better deals. For instance, install solar panels and batteries in the neighborhoods within a certain radius to act as virtual power plant that provides peak or backup power.
Instead, we have petulant protesters who would have felt right at home burning witches at the stake because there was a drought.
Between the fake news and real facts it’s hard for a common person to know the truth. I would guess that 95 percent of the people protesting the data centers have never ever been to one to hear the “noise”. I watched the MDC hearing when there was debate about 65 db from a data center verse 65 db from other industries and how best to measure and it was comical. If you have a general noise ordinance of 65 db I don’t think legally you could force a data center user to have lower noise level. Unconstitutional it seems to a layman. And on this board feels like paid protestors and paid supporters.
If Indy keeps enacting these socialist driven moratoriums backed by Jesse Brown then investment in Indianapolis will continue to drop. Indy needs to embrace high tech firms to come here and invest. If the city wants to follow Jesse Brown then vote him in as Mayor. Monday if I heard his public speech he said billionaires are bad for the city along with the Israelites and data centers. Not sure how we the people allow such hatred towards people based on religion and how we allow hate towards the largest philanthropist in the state????? Why do we accept this from elected officials ???? Hate??? The Democrats remove him out of the caucus- didn’t they ? See just today news on the state of investments.
https://www.ibj.com/articles/indiana-venture-investment-totals-dropped-in-2q-report-says?utm_source=ibj&utm_medium=home-latest-news
Let’s break down your AI generated list, that has plenty of assertions with no actual supporting evidence.
1. Water – I’ll acknowledge that closed-loop systems are an improvement. However, regardless of trends towards non-potable usage, the vast majority of data center water still comes from drinking water supply. You also pointedly ignore another issue, the vast amounts of groundwater that must be pulled out for many of these projects. The Amazon project in Indiana alone is pulling 31 million gallons of water a day during construction. That can never be replaced.
2. Energy. Your argument is relative. Data centers might be efficient compared to other types of industrial facilities, but they do still use massive amounts of energy. And when they can’t rely on the grid, they use dirty and loud diesel generator backups. Companies may be trending towards building clean energy infrastructure, which I support, but they are not even close to the level needed. Why not put the horse before the cart and build the energy supply BEFORE the data centers?
3. Employment – this is so laughable that it’s barely worth refuting. Besides the temporary construction jobs, none of the other wraparound jobs cited are guaranteed to be filled in Indiana. I find it very unlikely they ever would be given our state’s defunding of higher education.
4. Noise. Data centers never stop their operations. Residents living around them report a constant noise akin to an idled semi truck or hovering helicopter. Sounds pleasant! And when the diesel generators are on? Noise levels can exceed 105 db, capable of inducing hearing loss in minutes.
4. Community benefits. Our fair state has already dished out over $600 million is tax incentives to data centers. How much of that do we expect to be recouped with tax revenue? Show me the data.
You find me to be petulant, and that’s okay. It’s easy to demean those you disagree with. For example, I find you to be an ill-informed shill for industry and likely a boomer with no real stake in the long-term future of the world. Newsflash, though, your entire family has to live through it. So, how is it unreasonable to enact a TEMPORARY moratorium on these projects until we can establish a clear and uniform regulatory framework and better understand the community effects of the centers already built? Who suffers from that approach? Literally only the corporations trying to shove them down our throats.
Regarding water, quoting a gallon number is classic misinformation. “look at this huge number” Compared to what? How much does a farm use? How much does other industry use? If you are a nut milk drinker, then you like are responsible for about that much water usage yourself.
If we had a market-driven energy industry, they would have been investing and building instead of saying helplessly we have no power, and the solution I presented deals with both that as well as your concern about diesel generator noise.
I like how you are so dismissive of trade jobs and blue collar ongoing work. Pretty sure you can’t move onsite maintenance work out of Indiana and construction jobs that are highly paid are good jobs too.
Notice that i never advocated for tax benefits, these companies can pay their own way. Your framework sounds suspiciously like death by regulation. Have you ever pulled permits, built anything, actually learned how the built world works? Everything is tradeoffs, so negotiate, don’t strangle industries. And no, I’m not a boomer and I work in the built world.
31 million gallons of water is the same as what 310,000 homes, or about what the city of Ft Wayne, use in a day. Regulations are good. This moratorium is temporary. Indy is just following what leaders across the political spectrum and country are doing. It’s good to be skeptical of what industries try to push on us. It sounds like you just want some more construction jobs no matter the cost since you work in “the built world.”
LOL you got spanked, David.
Congrats, Matt B. Another low-intelligence conservative who doesn’t know what Socialism means and think they can use it as their big scary word to get their way. LOLOLOL
About damn time.
I agree these socialist positions are the opposite of capitalism. If Indiana wants socialism, then moritorium it all….Let’s become NYC, Chicago or LA……vote it in…..
Hell yeah Matt it’s good to have you comrade
Moratoriums are not socialism lol. That is silly and you will never be taken seriously as a person while spouting such nonsense.
And oh no! Dense cities with big budgets, vibrant neighborhoods, lower crime than Indy, and better mass transit. Where do I sign up?
The City needs to throw out its whole one size fits all zoning ordinance amendment, put on its big girl pants, and get serious.
should we stop data centers…..should we continue to raise property taxes and wheel taxes and income taxes in Mariony County. Is this the Jesse Brown and Andrea platform? or blueprint for Indy 2050?
You can thank the Indiana GOP for our tax increases.