Letter: House Bill 1333 supports growth of battery storage and data centers

House Bill 1333 is being presented as a technical land-use and economic development bill, but its real impact deserves closer attention from Hoosiers—especially those in rural communities.

HB 1333 makes certain large developments on agricultural land a “permitted use,” meaning they can move forward without rezoning, special exceptions, or meaningful local approval. This strips counties and towns of their ability to decide how farmland and rural areas should be used and removes the public’s opportunity to weigh in before projects are approved.

The bill also allows private developers involved in brownfield agreements to receive protections similar to government immunity. While redevelopment is important, shifting legal risk away from developers and toward taxpayers should give communities pause.

HB 1333 further allows onsite energy offtake developments to bypass local zoning permits entirely, reducing local oversight and cutting off permitting revenue for local governments. At the same time, utility-scale battery storage systems are expanded across the state, placing new safety and emergency response burdens on rural areas that may not have the resources or training to handle them.

Finally, the bill changes how public hearings are conducted by allowing restrictions on who may speak and how long they are allowed to speak. This risks discouraging public participation at exactly the moment when transparency matters most.

Land use decisions should be made locally, with full public input and accountability. HB 1333 moves Indiana in the opposite direction by prioritizing speed and developer convenience over community voice and local control.

Indiana lawmakers should reconsider this bill and protect the right of local residents to decide what happens in their own communities.

John Kaltenbacher
Dubois County