Data Center Study Committee gathers public feedback, talks energy use

WNIN | By Tim Jagielo

Published November 13, 2026 at 1:42 PM CST

Kaleb Bowen of Evansville speaks passionately against data centers at the hearing at Ivy Tech Community College in Evansville, Tuesday, Nov. 10. The event was hosted by the Vanderburgh County Data Center Study Committee to gather community feedback. "The only people that are for (data centers) have a financial incentive," he said, referring to trades people. "When does the money stop? I guarantee you, every single person sitting in this chair makes more money than I do."

Vanderburgh County Data Center Study Committee is researching Data Centers to help County Commission draft a local measure to regulate them; comments were heard at Evansville Ivy Tech hearing

Real estate investor Tom Newmaster urges the Vanderburgh County Study Committee and the audience, to give the potential for projects a chance. "This technology is so important to the survival of the United States. Not just Vanderburgh or Warrick County or Posey County. This is our future," Newsmaster said. "President Trump has brought it to the attention how important it is for us to be competitive with foreign countries. We need to wake up."

It was a busy week for the Vanderburgh County Data Center Study Committee.

On the same day, they held a regular committee meeting at the Civic Center, and then a public hearing to gather comments about data centers from residents.

Comments at the listening session ranged from anger that the county is even discussing data centers, to words of support for possible economic gains.

“I appreciate what you're doing,” said attendee Liz Niedhammer. “I appreciate that the county is being proactive ”

Study Committee Chair Lloyd Lamberton moderated the event. He said they’ll pay special attention to comments that are “real community impacts,” and keep working on important study topics.

“The committee itself is still working on getting through all of the elements that we hope to research,” he said. “It's quite possible that we'll ask the commissioners for additional time.”

There were more than 30 comments by the end of the session, recorded to audio and video.

James Mosely is concerned about data centers following environmental protection laws. “There should be zoning in place … at least some regulations that would be consistent with the Air and Clean Air and Clean Water Act regulations,” he said.

Leanne Rippie was concerned about her well water with a data center nearby. “Who's going to fix our water well if it's damaged or drained? Will the cooling water come from private groundwater wells or municipal water?”

“These data centers will provide hundreds and thousands of jobs for construction over the next couple of years,” said Ryan McRoberts. “They will also provide dozens and dozens of maintenance jobs after the facility is up and going.”

Vanderburgh County Data Center Listening session

audio provided by Mark Murray

Jenna Richardt is a Data Center Study Committee member, and CenterPoint Energy Director of External Affairs. Here, she talks at the inaugural committee meeting, Wednesday Sept. 2. This week, she lead a discussion on data centers and the local energy grid.

Vanderburgh County is slightly behind Posey and Warrick Counties, which are developing their own data center ordinances.

Warrick County tabled their own ordinance this week for further tweaks. As of right now, there are officially no actual proposed projects in Vanderburgh County.

The Study Committee has been meeting since early September, and each time they discuss a specific topic related to these projects. These topics include an existing data center in South Bend, emergency services at these sites, health risks of projects and this week — energy.

Specifically something called MISO studies, which allow a municipality to see how a project in a specific location might affect the local power grid. MISO is an acronym for Midcontinent System Operator.

This topic was presented by committee member and CenterPoint Energy Director of External Affairs Jenna Richardt.

“It's a tool that they should require for an applicant to help provide information that should allow the municipality or the county to feel secure that the grid is reliable, resilient, and that everyone existing customers will be protected,” Richardt said.

Ideally, such studies should protect other utility customers from brownouts, which is another significant concern for possible data center neighbors.

The final scheduled meeting is December 15. Again, Lamberton said they’ll likely ask the County Commission for more time.

Watch the Data Center Forum Here

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