Saturday, May 24, 2025

More moratoriums

Portland Plan Commission agreed Thursday to host a public hearing June 5 discussing potential moratoriums on carbon sequestration and data centers in the city.

Minnich Eggs of rural Portland is planning to build a biochar manufacturing and distribution facility and new feed mill in Noble Township. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, biochar — it’s defined as “black carbon produced from biomass sources” — is mainly created for carbon sequestration.

Jay County Plan Commission is hosting a public hearing next month also to consider moratoriums on carbon sequestration facilities as well as wind farms. 

Data centers have also come up at county plan commission meetings, specifically addressing the new center cropping up in New Haven.

Jay/Portland Building and Planning director John Hemmelgarn suggested the commission enact moratoriums to allow time to develop ordinances, outlining rules for such facilities in the city.