The Starke County Commissioners have approved an ordinance banning commercial data centers in unincorporated areas of the county.
The ordinance, approved at the Commissioner’s meeting held this morning, Monday, October 19th, prohibits commercial data centers in all areas governed by the Starke County Plan Commission. The ban applies to unincorporated parts of Starke County only and does not apply within individual town limits of Knox, North Judson, or Hamlet.
The county’s ordinance also includes cryptocurrency mining facilities and server farms.
According to the ordinance, county officials raised concerns about the amount of water these facilities can use, the demands they place on the electrical grid, and noise associated with their operation.
The new regulations also prohibit certain cooling systems that consume large amounts of water, along with electrical substations and battery storage facilities built primarily to support the prohibited data centers.
The ordinance includes exceptions for certain smaller computer rooms and equipment used by public utilities and telecommunications providers.
The Starke County Plan Commission voted six in favor, with two members absent, to recommend the ordinance during its October 14 meeting.
The commissioners approved the ordinance October 19th. It will take effect following the required legal publication.
