Residents Oppose Data Center Development in Wheatfield

Cynthia North gazes across her front yard to a scene now dominated by metal fences, trucks, and dirt mounds. Once proud of her neighborhood, she now feels anger. North, standing with handmade ‘for sale’ signs inside her Wheatfield, Indiana home, aims to sell due to a nearby data center’s construction. “The property value is going to be nothing,” North explained. “The noise is going to be horrible. My water is going to be horrible. … It’s not going to be livable here.”

North resides near Project Rise, a data center project situated between E. 1350 N and County Road 300 in Kankakee Township, close to NIPSCO’s R.M. Schahfer Generating Station. Having lived there for 12 years, she now contemplates relocating, questioning who would buy her home under these circumstances. Joining North, other Jasper County residents have channeled their frustration into action against the $7 billion data center project. A local activist group is raising $10,000 in funds to secure legal representation, aiming to halt the development.

Georgette Aguilar, a resident living about six miles south of the site, expressed a desire to stop the project legally. The group hopes to find legal counsel to ensure industrial land use rules are followed, investigate possible law violations, and enforce permits and other decisions. Aguilar noted, “I don’t think people are still aware of what’s coming.”

Amazon announced Project Rise in June, deeming it a significant $7 billion data center campus that promises 250 permanent jobs in Jasper County. Residents, including North and her community, claim there were meetings where concerns were voiced but felt dismissed as ‘done deal.’ Dawn Jefferson suggests the process seemed finalized before reaching residents.

North’s activism began upon noticing ‘no data center’ signs in neighborhood lawns. She immersed herself in learning the implications of data centers, emphasizing reliance on advocacy groups, like Just Transition Northwest Indiana, to understand their adverse effects. Ashley Williams, executive director of this organization, accused Amazon of bypassing zoning and environmental protocols, endangering local water sources, farmland, and quality of life.

Ashley Williams highlighted, “We believe what’s happening in Jasper County presents a strong case for legal challenge and will set a regional precedent for similar unchecked projects.” Meanwhile, Josh Weissman from Amazon Web Services displayed commitment to working closely with local officials to align with community priorities, holding a resident-open house for face-to-face engagement. Weissman assured, “We worked with county officials to shape our project around local priorities.”

The federal mandate preserved coal-fired power plants like the Schahfer Generating Station to power data centers. Weissman shared that Amazon would fund power requirements separately, contributing new generation facilities and battery storage. Additionally, investments in regional wind and solar projects were highlighted.

Residents expressed skepticism about project benefits, including claims of savings for NIPSCO customers over 15 years. JTNWI raised concerns about diesel generator use, countered by Weissman stating these conform to EPA standards and run minimally. He promised compliance via stringent air permit reviews to maintain community air quality.

Frustration is evident among residents toward Jasper County officials whom they accuse of hastily approving the development without proper civilian consultation. Amazon worked with officials, securing unanimous county approval. Jasper County Attorney Eric Beaver confirmed compliance with legal standards, refuting awareness of opposition legal actions.

Beaver addressed potential adversities with data centers nationally, noting the distinctive local context. The center won’t utilize groundwater for cooling, equating its water consumption to a typical golf course. Through Amazon’s contributions, enhancements like a $25 million local water infrastructure investment are planned, promising municipal services for Wheatfield.

However, Aguilar fears diminished influence due to visible progression at Project Rise. Emphasizing persistence despite perceived hurdles, she stated, “I think about the long-term consequences, and I’m scared for our future. … We have to do something.”