Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Vanderburgh County Data Center Research Committee held its third meeting on September 29, 2026, beginning at 1:02 PM in Meeting Room 301 of the Civic Center Complex. Chair Lloyd Lamberton led the session, which focused on refining the committee's scope, defining data center classifications, and establishing a work methodology. County Commissioner Amy Canterbury attended to clarify the Board of Commissioners' expectations, emphasizing the role of the committee to provide fact-based findings rather than a fully drafted ordinance.
No members of the public spoke during this meeting. The committee discussed establishing a formal public comment process, including a dedicated 15-minute period and an email inbox (datacenterresearch@evansvillegov.com) for written submissions.
Clarification of Scope, Deliverables, and Expectations: Commissioner Canterbury advised the committee to focus on identifying community concerns and opportunities, leaving the precise legal language of any ordinance amendment to the Area Plan Commission and county attorneys. The committee agreed its final deliverable would be a set of documented recommendations rather than a fully wordsmithed ordinance.
Data Center Tour Logistics: John Diekhoff reported on potential tour sites, including a hyperscale facility in New Albany, Ohio (available for external viewing only) and a smaller operational facility in South Bend. The committee decided that members should email their specific goals and objectives for a site visit to Susan Hardwick, who will compile a formal tour plan with expected outcomes.
Data Center Classifications: The committee reviewed a classification chart and debated the merits of defining categories by size versus by impact. A tentative consensus was reached to define the primary target of their recommendations as facilities with a power demand of 100 megawatts or greater (hyperscale), with smaller facilities remaining under existing zoning codes. The committee acknowledged this threshold was a working definition subject to revision.
Public Comment Process: Chair Lamberton suggested scheduling public comment earlier in the committee's schedule to allow adequate time for the committee to consider feedback. Others expressed concern about disrupting focus. The committee agreed to adopt a defined 15-minute public comment period and established the email datacenterresearch@evansvillegov.com for ongoing public input.
Work Methodology: Jenna Richardt proposed a template-based approach for collecting and organizing research. Committee members will assign themselves to sections based on their area of expertise (e.g., water, noise, public safety, economic development) and review 10-20 existing data center ordinances to populate the template. The committee agreed to this framework.
I think everybody is here. It's after one o'clock. Jenna, can you go ahead and call roll call? Do you need a list? I think I got one out there. Okay. Tom Shatler? John Robertson. Richard Reed? Here. Jason Nabb. Mark Murray. Here. Chai. Thank you. Lauren Lynch? Yes. Susan Hardwick. Here. John Dykoff? Here. John Bates. Here. Scott Ambrose. Jenna Richard, here, Lloyd Landwork. Here. So I wanted to make some opening comments. I want to thank Amy Canterbury for coming. We met yesterday to talk about some of the issues that we're talking about. We had a great conversation. And I knew that there were some questions from some of the committee members, and she's agreed to come and answer those questions. So I appreciate her coming. As we move forward, you know, I'm learning more and more, I guess, as I go along. And I guess have learned some things that I believe that our task is obviously challenging, and how to be able to achieve our goals in the time that we've been given to do it and do it effectively. But the thing that I believe will help us be efficient in our work is having those people that have backgrounds in that area put together a presentation or a two or three-page document that has the critical critical components of the topic and present it to the group so that there can be a discussion on that. What I fear is that if we take each topic, okay, and without having some sort of document in front of us beforehand that comes from an expert or somebody in that field, that it just gets batted around and we're not as efficient. So that's that's my goal, uh, or that's my thought process. Um and I welcome others, you know, to give their input and modify what I'm thinking because what I'm thinking may not be the best way either. I accept that. Um but again, I think we need to stay within the envelope of the ordinance. Um the other comment I have is that after reviewing so many ordinances, um I've noticed that it's certainly way beyond my capabilities to develop a complete ordinance. And I think the county and the county commissioners through the area plan commission have professionals that can develop it. Um I think what they need to hear from the community is what things they worry about the most and what opportunities the community stands to gain by having uh a data center in the community because there are significant economic gains that can be achieved. Um they need I again I think we have a window in which to do that, and that window is closing as more and more communities in Indiana or nearby states take advantage of the opportunities that are out there. So uh I'm just hoping that we can be as efficient as possible.