A Safe Data Center or NO Data Center

Petition addressed to: APC and White County Commissioners

Request to increase protections for residents, ratepayers, farmland, and water resources in the proposed Data Center Ordinance

The undersigned residents, landowners, and stakeholders respectfully petition the APC and the Ordinance Task Force to strengthen the proposed Data Center Ordinance before it is advanced for recommendation or adoption. 

Accordingly, this petition requests that the ordinance be revised to include the following minimum protections:
·      Increased setbacks: Require a minimum setback of 1325 feet from residences, schools, churches, and other sensitive uses. A 2-mile setback for Municipalities.
·      Building size cap: Limit any data center building to 100,000 square feet.
·      Cooling-water protections: Prohibit open-loop cooling systems and impose strict limits on any discharge of contaminated or heated water.
·      Natural gas generator limits: Prohibit or strictly limit natural gas generators and require the strongest available standards for emissions, noise, and hours of operation.
·      Special exception review: Require every data center proposal to obtain a Special Exception rather than being allowed by right.
·      Resident electric-rate protections: Require enforceable protections so that residential customers do not bear electric infrastructure or rate increases attributable to data center development.